Caring for your skin - under a face mask

Well, times have changed quite a lot over the last 2 months haven't they?

Winter Hair Help

Your Winter Hair Forecast

 Winter is a brutal time for our hair. Wind, rain and cold temperatures outside whip our hair into a flyaway mess and the desert like conditions inside our home and office are even worse! Indoor heating dries out the hair and weakens the hair cuticle, this can lead to breakage.

To nurse your hair back to health you need to Hydrate and Protect your hair.

Hydrate – using moisturising shampoos and conditions and once a week use a deep conditioning product.  

When you visit your hairdresser cherish your tresses with a professional repairing treatment.

Protect – using hot tools on your hair will exacerbate the damage caused already. Blotting moisture from your hair rather than rubbing and using a Heat Protection Spray before blow drying will shield your hair and add shine.

Great products all available from Calla Studio, including fabulous luxury treatments with our Luxury Cut and Blow Dry

Favourite Festive Nails

Seasonal Nail Colours

So here at Calla Studio we are well into the festive season! We’ve already enjoyed our Christmas Night Out and we’ve been getting a lot of lovely people ready for their parties too.

Here’s a rundown of the festive favourites for nails

Ruby Ritz

WOW just WOW!!  This is a winner every year, a gorgeous sparkling Christmas red and everyone that loves red falls in love with it!

Garnet Glamour

Another stunning red, darker than Ruby but still sparkling and Christmassy.

Because we have planned in advance, we have 2 great alternatives for you, should they run out.

  

Emerald Lights

A Christmas Tree green with built in glitter.

Very on trend this year and brings lots of

compliments our way.

Faith Glitter over a nude colour
Just a stunning colour that can be played up or down to suit

Silver or Gold

The Christmas CND colours are beautiful with a lovely shimmery bronzy-gold – Bellini, and a sparkling silver – After Hours. Kiss of Fire is a classic red with subtle glistening effect

So these are the Festive favourites here at Calla Studio!

Party Beauty

It's Christmas - which means PARTY TIME!!

Get Party Ready

Lash Extensions

Lush Lashes

A lot of people love extra lashes at Christmas, they help to define our eyes and make us look even more gorgeous!

Here at Calla Studio we offer, Lash Tinting, Lash Lifting and Lash Extensions, to offer a choice of natural, a bit glam or full on glamour. Long lasting effects that will take you through the Festive Season.

We also sell Strip lashes, so if you love the look of extensions but don’t have the time to get them done, this is a really quick & easy way of getting the look. With a range of Natural, Volume or Textured to choose from.

Lash Lift and Tint

Gorgeous Glowing Skin

I LOVE a spray tan! Its quick, its even and I don’t have to try to reach my back by myself. I keep it going as long as possible by using a tan extending moisturiser which smells beautiful and keeps my skin soft too.

We use Skinny Tan Professional for our Luxury Spray tans which gives a truly fabulous colour, with a nice fragrance and extra skin loving ingredients. It lasts well too.

For our Standard Spray tan we use Crazy Angel, again has a great colour, but isn’t as luxe as Skinny Tan.

We also stock Skinny Tan Tone & Tan Oil, which you can see all over Facebook and gives a great colour if you would rather self tan at home.

Beautiful Hair

Swishy shiny hair, beautifully coloured and looking fabulous is everyone’s crowning glory. Our Hairdressers have many years of experience between them and love to make everyone feel special. A Luxury Blow Dry before a big night gives your hair a super treat and the extended head massage gets you feeling relaxed and pampered.

If you don’t have time for a Blow Dry with us, ask our stylists about the wonderful L’Oréal products that can help you get the style you love at home as well as when you leave us.

Glossy Nails

Glossy or sparkling, long or short, oval or square. There are so many ways to wear polish now. We use CND Shellac or OPI Gel Color for a long lasting manicure or pedicure. Switch it up and choose from our selection of sparkling glitters for a Rockstar look or a statement nail.

We are a friendly bunch here and will happily answer your questions about any of our treatments. Call us on 02380 474525 or pop in to visit

Spray Tan Time!

Spray Tan Season

So when that sun starts to peek out from behind the clouds do you dread putting shorts or skirts on because of your winter lily white legs? I do!

Why I love Spray Tans

I was born with the natural white / freckly skin that comes from being the daughter of a red head, so I am usually white, pink or possibly (very occasionally!) a slightly darker white. I do not tan naturally. Because of skin cancer warnings I take sun protection very seriously and so am usually slathering Factor 50 on along with the children.

But ………  I love to look tanned.

Those wobbly bits look 1000 times more attractive if they are golden brown and not white or pink. So, I get the spray tan out. The quickest and safest way to an even golden tan for everyone 😊

I have been spray tanning for about 8 years now and I have sprayed countless bodies over those years. I love it! And spray tans have evolved immensely since then as well. They develop faster, they have different tones and shades, additional moisturising ingredients, skin tightening properties and they last longer too.

The Perfect Prep

For the perfect tan, we need to start with a perfect base.

The perfect base, is clean, exfoliated skin – with NO moisturiser on. Moisturiser will create a barrier on the skin that prevents absorption of the active ingredients, leading to a patchy uneven finish.

24 hours before your spray tan, de fuzz. All waxing or shaving should be done at least 24 hours before your spray tan, this ensures any irritation has calmed down and hair follicles closed.

On the day of your tan, exfoliate with an oil FREE exfoliator or a loofah really well. Make sure all that dead skin is sloughed off down the drain leaving only fresh smooth skin behind – this will really help the tan last better too.

Leave off deodorant / anti-perspirant – as the tanning ingredient (DHA) comes into contact with these products it goes green! A bright and brilliant green too. You will still go brown, but it can freak you out having bright green arm pits.

The Spray Tan Experience

Wear loose fitting clothes to your spray tan appointment. We recommend dark clothing, but really anything that you don’t mind getting a bit of spray tan on. If you have long hair, remember to bring along a hair band or clip too.

We have disposable pants that you can wear, but a lot of people prefer to wear their own underwear (maybe not your favourite Victoria Secrets briefs though!), a mob cap to keep stray hairs away from your face and neck, and sticky feet for you to stand on to avoid the dreaded orange feet.

We will leave you to disrobe, while we prepare the tanning gun, remember anything that is covered will not tan. We will tan anything that is bare.

Before tanning you, we will pop a tiny smidge of barrier cream on the driest areas – hands, elbows, knees, ankles & feet. This will make sure that you don’t get any orange areas – your tan secret will be safe with us.

It will feel a little bit chilly while you are being sprayed with the solution, just remember it is only a few minutes and we try to keep the room as warm as possible for you. Follow our instructions, its like a little dance, to ensure even spraying.

We dry you off and then you can get dressed.

Aftercare

We will advise you when you will need to shower off your tan. It will be somewhere between 3 & 8 hours. Use warm water on most of your body to rinse off the guide colour that remains on your skin. Only use shower gel where you need it – you don’t want it to fade too quickly.

Then keep on moisturising! The more you moisturise the longer the tan lasts. Avoid very  oily body butters and body oils as this can break down the tan.

Avoid saunas, jacuzzis, and hot tubs. Be aware that swimming in pools or the sea will also fade your tan faster.

As it starts to fade, use a gentle exfoliator to keep the tan even.

You will still tan through a spray tan but it will not protect you from sunburn. Please remember to continue to apply sunscreen to protect yourself.

Now go hit the beach or pool or big night out full of confidence and feeling totally and utterly fabulous 

xxxxx

Recommended products

Exfoliators - SkinnyTan Primer, Exfoliating mitts

Post Tan - Pro Tan Perfectly Pink Moisturiser

Spray Tan - We use Skinny Tan professional 

Pin Up Perfect Party Pins

Be brave and ditch those black opaque tights this party season!

Let’s show off your Lovely Legs

This year, to make sure your legs are looking their loveliest before you hit the town here’s a few little suggestions for you.

Exfoliation – our legs are kept well wrapped this time of year, so give them some love and kindness by gently exfoliating them.  Personally, I love to make my own with Coconut oil and salt or brown sugar, and you can add a drop or two (no more!) of your favourite essential oil. Chamomile or lavender are lovely but avoid if you are pregnant. Pay attention to your knees and ankles which can get a lot drier than other areas.

De fuzzing – we let that hair grow whilst we can hide behind opaque tights, jeans and trousers – we all do it! When we want to show them off in sheer or no (!) tights we need smooth perfection. Waxing is a long lasting way of removing hair, and if you keep it up throughout the year gets finer and sparser and less painful – win win.

Moisturise – now all the dead skin and fuzziness is gone, treat your legs to thorough moisturising. This time of year dries our skin out so a rich body cream will be fantastic applied before bed giving it time to be absorbed, leaving your legs feeling lusciously smooth and soft.

Tanning – glamorous golden legs are always in fashion. We can’t all afford to whizz off to the Caribbean to top up a tan, unfortunately, however, spray tans are affordable and long lasting. A great spray tan will be even, smooth and gorgeous – never orange. If you don’t want a spray tan and only need the tan for one evening there are some lovely 24 hour wash off bronzers now available.

Pedicure – If you’ve been hiding in thick tights and boots chances are your feet are feeling a little neglected. So treat them too, softer feet will feel so much better in those dancing shoes, and glossy, glittery or metallic toenails will sparkle on the dance floor.

Lovely Lashes

Lash Loveliness

 A quick guide to the different treatments available for Lush Lashes and Defined Brows

Lash lift & Tint Classic Lash Extensions Volume Lash Extensions To ensure that your eyes always look their best - don't forget your brows!! Beautifully shaped, defined and tinted eyebrows frame your eyes and will make sure your eyes are noticed!!

3 Easy Ways to Fab Lashes ·         Lash Tinting ·         Lash Lifting ·         Lash Extensions Lash Tinting is the quickest way to define your eyes. Using Black or Blue/Black lash tint your lower and upper lashes will be darker and therefore more noticeable. To keep it looking good book in every 4 weeks. Lash Lifting is the next step up from tinting. Your lashes are gently curved by using a lash perming solution, but they don’t go curly, they are just bent up to give a wide awake look to your eyes. Lash curls will last 4-6 weeks or  until you will want them redone. Lash Extensions give a glamorous look with no mascara required at all. This is a longer treatment but the results are truly impressive and addictive. Classic lashes are 1 lash extension applied to 1 natural lash.  Volume lashes use even finer lashes and 2 - 6 are applied in a fan shape to 1 natural lash. This takes longer but the fluffy volume look is very pretty. Upkeep is 2-3 weeks for infills, but with the right application and aftercare you will have amazing looking lashes from morning through to evening. Always take the time to tell your lash tech the look that you want and how much time you have for upkeep to make sure you have the right lashes for your lifestyle.

Summer Hair

Summer Hair - How you like it!

Are you looking forward to your first sunshine holiday? 

Chilling on the beach, playing in the sea, relaxing in the sun?
All of these can play havoc with the condition of our hair.

As a L'Oreal salon we have a range of products to help keep your hair looking gorgeous throughout your time away.

Shampoo & Conditioner / Masque

Mythic Oil shampoo has a nourishing formula enriched with osmanthus extract and ginger oil. Hair is left feeling nourished and soft, supple and brilliantly shiny. Match it with the conditioner and your hair is protected all summer.  For a more intensely nutrifying shampoo we also have Nutrifier Shampoo, and for coloured hair Vitamino.  All of these are available in mini travel packs - perfect for travelling, or to try out before you buy full size.

Protection Spray / Creme

Always use Protection for your hair as well as your skin!!!!
Mythic Oil also has a Nourishing Oil and a Colour Glow Oil which leaves your hair soft and shiny. The brand new formula enriched with argan oil, also has a heat protection in up to  230°C - so great for when you use your straighteners too.
The Mythic Oil Creme Universelle is your all in 1 protection cream, as a pre-shampoo, detangling rinse off conditioner, and blow-dry cream that provides 96 hour volume control. Enriched with argan and almond oil for nourishment, and long-term hair nutrition and smoothness.

Styling

Wild Stylers range has the salon exclusive Beach Waves. This texturising salt water spray gives you that on-trend beachy hair effect, with a no-rough touch. Let your mane go wild! Whether you apply at night and leave for a messy-chic finish, or spray before barrel curling for an added texturised effect. This styling essential is perfect for a matte, chic look on any hair type.

Call us on 023 8047 4525 or call in for more information and to stock up before your holiday.

Bikini Bodies

SO, I know you may feel that this subject has been done to death, but over the past few weeks I have felt strongly that I would like to have a say.

The initial poster on the London Underground offended quite a few people.  I understand this, it is pretty demoralising as a person to be told that you are not good enough as you are.

I really dislike any type of "diet" that encourages meal replacments.  Believe me, I have in the past used them and regretted it, it is a system that does not encourage you to enjoy good food in a wholesome manner.

The model in question is slim and well toned - Good on her!! BUT .......

Not everyone is a model. Not everyone has the time to spend on making their bodies fit the current stereotype that marketeers want in their adverts. 

Some of us have long commutes to busy jobs, as well as a family to love and care for.  I know my children would rather have a wobbly mummy to cuddle them than a fit and toned mummy that spends the evenings at the gym to look "perfect" (whatever that is supposed to be!) and not see them.

The scary moment comes for me when I hear a 13year say she wants to become anorexic so that she looks better - WHAT!!!!!! NOOOOOO!!!!!!! 

These are a just 2 news items that I read this morning on my News feed

BBC news - Eating disorder hospital admissions double http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/articles/32975654

Sky news - YSL Ad banned over 'Unhealthily Thin' Model

 

This pictures sums up for me the insidious way marketing is encouraging our young girls to aspire to an unnaturally thin ideal.

I understand that there are a LOT of different body shapes and some people are naturally very slim, but some of us are not.  

What we should be aspiring to surely is a healthy look for us as an individual.  My father-in-law thought that it was funny to say how much weight I had put on over the last few years.  I was LIVID! This was in front of my 2 young impressionable girls.  How DARE he? I stayed calm but it upset me that people think they can judge us by how we look or how much they think we weigh.

We are all beautiful.  We should avoid junk food not because we will be slimmer (although we probably will!) but because it is bad for us.  We should eat our fruit and vegetables because they are full of goodness that helps us stay healthy for as long as possible.  We should all accept that beauty comes from within - the prettiest girl can look ugly when she thinks and speaks mean and spiteful thoughts.

We are all different, we can all be beautiful as beauty comes from the inside.  Love, kindness and generosity will shine through a persons eyes.  

So eat well - good food that you enjoy.  Smile lots, 

Laugh more, 

Love and love some more, 

but please let us not beat ourselves up anymore over the fact that we will never look like the girl in the poster - she probably doesn't either Photoshop has a lot to answer for!

That is my personal rant for the day over.  

Peace, light and love to you all

Anna 

By the way, yes I offer a body wrap for people in my business, but I make no promises and my favourite part of the whole treatment is the way your skin will feel the next day and the relaxation it gives my lovely clients. 

My Travel makeup

I have been lucky enough to go on a long weekend break with my friends to Rome - cue obligatory selfie in Colosseum.

This time we could take luggage in the hold - so hubby says "Will most of your case be taken up by makeup?" (Cheeky!!)

But I had a little box of goodies to take with - the Absolu Au Naturel from Lancome.  I had to get it from Duty Free but the colours work great with my skin tones.  Being a freckle face with pink cheeks does not go well with the usual bronze and golds put into a lot of "natural" palettes.

So this little treasure box has 8 eye shadows, 2 concealers, a highlighter, lip gloss, lip colour, mini mascara, powder, brown eyeliner, lightening pencil, lip brush, shadow brush and highlighter brush, in a really tidy black case.

I did have to also take my Smashbox tinted moisturiser, my Dior Addict gloss, and my Benefit blusher box - but that was it!  So I had colours and makeup for daytime roaming and evening socialising.

Even if I had only had a carry on bag I would have been fine with these products.

The eye shadows, go on beautifully, and the colours all looked great.  I used the black shadow as an eyeliner with the small brush and it looked great, although if you prefer a real smoky eye or strong eyeliner look then a black pencil will also be needed.

So for short trips away, this lovely kit is now the first thing I pack.

I haven't quite mastered the art of the "selfie" but I love this photo of me with my beautiful girls off to visit family, and I've used my Absolu au Naturel kit.  Please forgive the eyebrows I know they needed doing but I ran out of time.

So, there is my first makeup kit review.  I'm not your usual beauty blogger but I do love to try out new beauty products and makeup.

Peace and kindness to all

Anna :-)

Lash Extensions - the good, the bad and the dangerous!

So lash extensions - love them or hate them there are a lot of beauty therapists out there doing lash extensions and they are becoming extremely popular. 

The Good

They are fantastic for those people that love the glamorous look of long, full lashes without the hassle of mascara that runs down your face.  For those ladies with hardly any lashes they really feel like a god send as they feel almost made up as soon as they get out of bed.

The lashes open up your eyes and open the window to your soul!  

I always use lovely gel pads that are gentle around the eyes, a high quality, fast drying glue to avoid lashes clumping together, and always ensure that the lashes are NOT too heavy or long for the client's natural lashes.  I like to use 0.15, 0.10 and 0.05 lashes to give a more natural look that is also better for the lashes.

Having the lashes applied means that you have to lie down for up to 2 hours and RELAX!  When the client opens their eyes and smile with delight - I am a very happy Lasher.

The Bad

Sometimes, sadly people can become allergic to be allergic to the glue that is used.  This  is why I always insist on a patch test at least 48 hours prior to the first set of extensions.  

Occasionally, I have come across lashes that are meant for temporary party lashes (cluster lashes) glued on with lash extension glue.  This worries me.  This will put too much stress on your natural lash with a possibility of them being pulled out - most definitely NOT what any of us want to see.

Cluster lashes with so much glue on the lashes it doesn't allow them to be cleaned or shed properly. 

The Dangerous

Poorly applied lashes can damage your own natural lashes, this may also cause other problems such as styes.

Application without a patch test is a NO NO!  An allergic reaction is not pretty and may be permanently damaging.

I have worked hard to ensure that whenever I do a set of lashes, there is correct lash isolation, the extensions is not too heavy or long, and that my equipment is sterilised after every client (no cross contamination on my lash table!).

I also LISTEN to what my clients want.  If they want a more natural set, then that is what I do for them. If they want fluffier lashes I use the very fine lashes (then I can put 2/3 on).

The best part of my Lash business - my lovely regular clients that come back after 2-3 weeks for their infills telling me that they can't live without their lashes!

I'll post more pictures up on my Facebook page as I start to take more photos.  

Take care all and hope to see you soon

Anna xx

Shrinking Violet Body Wrap - What you want to know!

So as you may know I have been doing Shrinking Violet Body Wraps for over 2 years now - WOW where has that time gone.

Lots of people want to know more about it so here goes with a run down of what it is, what the treatment entails and other information.

 Shrinking Violet inch loss body wraps are made by Tibby Olivier - a UK company.  They are a clinically proven, specially formulated wrap system. Independent clinical trials have proven one treatment can reduce fat by up to 2.5% with results showing after just 60minutes.

 The main ingredient is an active phospholipid solution that is pre-blended with essential oils (which smells amazing) carrying a cellulite blend. This active ingredient has previously been used in fat jabs- an injection used to reduce fat by injecting directly into the fatty tissue. But don’t worry, this method is non invasive and totally pain free.  In fact it is a fabulous treatment to relax into.

During the treatment you will be wrapped up in a film called Wrapture. Your arms and legs are wrapped separately to ensure you are comfortable and you then leave the wrap on for 60 minutes. You are covered up and nice and warm with our heated blanket, cosy and relaxing.  There is also an option to have a mini facial or head massage whilst you are wrapped.

There is no need to shower after your wrap- the shrinking violet solution is left on the skin for 12hours after your treatment as the solution remains active.

You may notice is a slight increase in urination for up to 2 days after the wrap.  Many of my clients also report that they sleep really well afterwards and their skin feels fantastic too.



You can jump start a new and slimmer you with a combination of Shrinking Violet Inch Loss wraps, exercise and healthy eating for optimum results. The inches you lose after your wrap will only come back if you continue to eat excess calories and do not follow the pre and aftercare advice.

Now you may want to know how many wraps you need!
The amount of wraps you have depends on the results you want to see. Some clients just have had one or two before a night out, holiday or special occasion. Where as some have a course of 6, 8 or 10 to achieve the a cumulative result.

All you have to do is follow this simple pre and after care advice to ensure you achieve the best results…
Pre care:
Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks for 24 hours before your wrap
Avoid eating a heavy meal before coming in for your wrap

After care:
Leave the solution on your skin for 12hours after the wrap
Drink at least a litre of water a day
Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks for 72 hours after your wrap
Regular exercise and a good diet to maintain your results.


If you would like any more information regarding wraps, please contact me via Facebook or check out my website.

www.facebook.com/CallaBeautyTreatments
www.calla-beauty.co.uk

Also there have been a lot of write ups in the press about the wraps too.


Here's to a beautiful New Year

Anna x

With many thanks to Kayleigh Marley for sharing with the Tibby Olivier therapists

New Year New You?

So along with the rest of the world I am setting myself a few goals this New Year.

I am going to try to keep them as achievable as possible as I want them to work!!

1.    Continue to eat as many vegetables and fruits as possible each day, and reduce sugar from my diet as much as possible.  According to a lot of research at the moment sugar causes your skin to age very quickly.

2.    Walk at least 30 minutes everyday - definitely possible as I have Cookie to walk! And we will be walking fast (when she's not in the mud!!)

3.    Set myself at least 1 appointment a week to get my eyebrows tinted and waxed, and eyelashes tinted at least! With the new Duchess wax I use my eyebrows won't even be that red - YAY
 My previous before and after picture

4.    Spend some real time with my munchkins.  Screen time for ALL of us needs to be limited and with 2 of them teenagers (well almost 2!) it won't be long before childhood is totally over and I want to make sure that I am there for them when they need me.

My children are the pivot of my life I am so proud of them all and I love the 3 of them to the moon and back.


So I am hoping that by the time I get to Easter I will have reached at least all of these very achievable aims.  They are not huge but I believe they will make a difference to how I feel inside and outside.

Oh and in January, my body is a WINE FREE ZONE - eeeekkk!!
Alcohol dehydrates our bodies and therefore our skin quicker than anything so to help my skin and the rest of me I will be DRY this January.

 
Here's wishing you all a peaceful, gorgeous and wonderful 2015

Anna x