Novalash Eyelash Extensions And A Bangin Bronzed Tan

Award-winning, long-lasting, medical-grade lash extension adhesives have earned NovaLash its reputation as “the healthiest” professional eyelash extension system. Comprised of a wide-ranging palette of colors, textures and sizes of eyelash extensions that can be combined for looks that run the gamut from subtle and natural to trendy and glamorous; each lash application is a work of art with an intricate finish.

As the industry leader, NovaLash offers superior lash extension education and training to its most talented and dedicated lash artists, and superior products and service to its clients. NovaLash works diligently to embody and exemplify the best that technology, science, creative artistry and customer satisfaction can achieve.


“NovaLash eyelash extensions are an “instant pretty” for any woman who desires for longer, fuller lashes. NovaLash eyelash extensions are meticulously applied lash-by-lash, bonded with award-winning medical-grade adhesives, by certified professional NovaLash stylists. They are weightless, wonderful and truly transformative.” - Sophy Merszei, CEO of NovaLash Eyelash Extensions

What Are NovaLash Lash Extensions? NovaLash Lash Extensions are a glamorous new way to extend the length and thickness of natural eyelashes, and are a practical, convenient and beautiful alternative to the daily use of mascara.  Unlike decades-old, traditional false lashes, lash extensions are the first innovation in lash lengthening that can be worn daily, without nightly removal.  Because each tapered, synthetic lash is bonded to a single natural lash, the final result is of effortless glamour and difficult to detect even close up.  How Long Do They Really Last? When properly applied, using Platinum Bond Adhesive, NovaLash lash extensions can be worn throughout the year with minimal monthly maintenance.  Touch-ups are recommended after the initial full set application to refill any lashes that have cycled out.  To maintain the full, thick appearance of a new set of lashes a visit to your beauty/lash professional is recommended every 4 weeks based on your own natural lash growth cycle.  Click here to see the NovaLash Challenge. Can Lash Extensions Harm Natural Lashes? When applied properly, lash extensions will not harm natural lashes.  The NovaLash application technique allows natural lashes to grow and thrive with extensions.  This technique requires several different “separation” steps during the application process so each extension is adhered to a single natural lash in order to prevent interruption of the lash growth cycle.   Can Mascara Be Used With Lash Extensions? Mascara is typically not needed with lash extensions.  Mascara should only be used when a touch-up is drawing near.  Water-soluble mascara can be worn; however constant use of mascara may shorten the lifespan of lashes.  Waterproof mascara is not recommended for use, as it will dissolve the bond with the lashes.  NovaLash glycol and carbonate free mascara is specifically formulated for use on extensions without interfering with the adhesive.  Click here to view NovaLash’s glycol and carbonate free mascara.  Once Applied What Is The Proper Way To Care For Lashes? Nightly conditioning is necessary to maximize the life of the extensions.  NovaLash’s nighttime conditioning/cleansing pads are perfect for cleaning the lashes free of any makeup or debris while moisturizing the lashes to maintain flexibility.  Using a lash wand to comb the lashes free of tangles is also recommended.  You shouldn’t leave a hair salon without top of the line hair products – same with your lashes!  Click here to view the aftercare kit.   Where Can I Get Them Done? Find a NovaLash professional lash stylists in your area on the Certified NovaLash Extensionist Listing page.  Always ask your lash professional to view their NovaLash Certified Extensionistcertificate and products they will be using to ensure a safe and flawless application.    Lash extensions will be coming soon!! Be on the "lash out".

Tips On Spray Tanning

So, we all know that tanning in the sun is pretty whack to the skin. Yes, you do need vitamin D. No, you do not need sun damage. The good news is that you can nab a pretty wicked glow via spray tanning. I love getting the spray because it gives me an even worry free glow. The truth is that a lot of people end up wasting the tan down the drain and go from bronzed goddess to splotchy mess quickly. Here are my tips on making that tan last.


1. You get what you pay for.  The spray tan booth is lower quality than getting it done by hand. I find that having it done looks the most natural and lasts longer than doing it myself. You also avoid orange hands when it is done for you. This is huge.

 

2. Go to get sprayed with no makeup, lotion, sunscreen or oils on any part of your body. These things all crate an extra layer that is hard for the tan to break through. You want that stuff to get as in there as possible.

 

3. Take an umbrella if it looks like rain. You do not want the rain to give you dots on your new spray tan.

 

4. Do not work out until the tan has had time to soak in.

 

5. Try not to put on your purse or your under garments because they might leave a mark.

 

6. Cover your manicure and pedicure with lotion or vaseline.

 

7. Cover your manicure and pedicure before you tan so that the exfoliation does not take off the tan. Do not soak your hands and feet the same day as the tan 

 

8. Try not to shave or exfoliate while you are trying to make the tan last.

 

9. Use lotions to hydrate the skin after the tan has set in as to make it last as long as possible.

 

10. Always cover blonde hair while spray tanning. Yes, this includes highlights.

 

11. Wash hands and feet after the spray so that they do not look orange.

 

12. Try not to wear white. Stick to cotton clothing as other fabrics tend to not be friends with sunless tanner.

 

13. Do not tint your eyebrows the same day that you spray tan. This will result in a tragic hot mess. Ew!

 

Follow these tips and you'll be rocking your flawless spray tan in no time!

http://www.bronzedandbeautifultanning.com/

Summer Special!!

Enjoy a customized airbrush tan for only $25.00 on Tuesdays!!!  This offer applies to both in studio or mobile tanning sessions. 

Call 804-359-2850 to schedule your appointment today!

Richmond, VA Welcomes Its First Exclusive Spray Tanning Salon

"Welcome to Richmonds #1 -Most experienced airbrush tanning salon. Sunless tanning is for every age & skin tone.  At Bronzed and Beautiful Tanning we provide you with the best possible sunless results!   

 We are Richmond's most trusted airbrush tanning salon. We use only state-of-the-art airbrush equipment, proprietary private label solution & have professionally certified airbrush technicians that are trained to apply a flawless airbrush effect for an even airbrush tan without any streaks or patchiness. We offer customized sessions based on your skin type and level of tan desired. Our solution is water based, alcohol free, and odorless. We are committed to providing you with the highest quality sunless tanning experience. Let the pros get you ready for your special events such as weddings, dance reunions, vacations or just to keep that year-round-tan.  We offer both mobile and in studio customized airbrush tanning.  We are conviently located at 2930 W Broad Street, Richmond, VA  23230. 

Schedule your appointment today and look Bronzed and Beautiful with a most lustrous, elegant tan without the harmful effects of the sun.You will love our natural custom airbrush tan that is odorless, non-sticky, fast-drying & long-lasting with a flawless fade.

Please call 1-804-359-2850 to inquire about our tanning packages & monthly salon specials.



The History of Tanning: Going for the Gold

It wasn't always this way. For centuries, tanned skin was considered unattractive, especially among women. A tan was not golden or glowing, but brown and weathered -- proof that someone labored outdoors. Well-bred ladies protected themselves with hats, parasols and long sleeves.

Coco Chanel is widely credited -- or blamed -- with changing all that. In 1923, the story goes that Chanel, the French fashion designer, accidentally got a lot of sun while sailing aboard a yacht to Cannes. When she returned from the Riviera golden brown, a fad was born. Before long, so was an industry. Movie stars, politicians, models, teenagers, housewives -- everyone wanted to look bronzed. The rich and famous traveled to sunny places in winter or used a sunlamp. Ordinary people "worked" on their tans, "lying out" in the sun for hours. Sunburns were common.

As the century wore on, dermatologists and oncologists in Western nations were alarmed by a surge in skin cancers. They warned that damage to the skin builds up over time, leading to wrinkles and dry skin, as well as cancer. By the 1970s, suntan lotions were giving way to sunscreen concoctions boasting varying degrees of protection. Tanning beds and booths began catering to those who wanted a tan but worried about the sun.

It wasn't long, however, before doctors began to warn that the ultraviolet tanning lamps used in beds and booths were as bad as, if not worse than, the sun. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that tanning lamps may be more dangerous than the natural sun because people can use them at the same intensity year-round and can expose their whole bodies at once [source: U.S. FDA].  In a reverse of Chanel's trend-setting tan, some of today's celebrities, such as the porcelain-skinned Nicole Kidman, speak out against tanning [source: Quenqua].

Those who still desire a tan are beginning to turn to "sunless" tanning. Increasingly, the preferred option is spray tanning. In fact, news reports in September 2009 quoted a leading financial analyst as saying that spray tanning is the one area of growth in an otherwise declining tanning industry. Spray tanning, which brought in about 11 percent of the industry's revenue last year, is expected to grow to 17 percent by the end of the year, according to George Van Horn, the analyst [source: Conroy].

So, just what is this magic spray? Tune in tomorrow to find out...

To Clip Or Not To Clip- That Is The Question...

Getting longer hair certainly isn’t easy, especially if you have to wait well over 1 year to get that hair length that you have always wanted. This is why you may be considering either clip in extensions or hair wefts for your hair – you want the longer hair, but you don’t have the months, if not years, to wait for your hair to grow out. So which ones are better?
Clip In Hair Extensions

Clip in hair extensions are increasingly popular as they cost significantly less than the other type of hair extensions that you would have fused to your hair. Most of the clip-in hair extensions are made of up synthetic fiber, though you can also find clip in hair extensions that are made up of human hair.
Given that the bonded type of hair extensions can easily cost you well over $1000 to have done well, you may be looking into choosing the clip in hair extensions. These types of extensions come in every shade and color, and are more often than not high heat friendly so you can still style your hair as per usual with the clip in hair extensions in.

The length and the width of the extensions also vary greatly, so you can better choose just where you will be placing the clip in hair extensions on your head. If you purchase a packet of hair extensions, expect to find several different widths and lengths in the package so that you can best use them to achieve the thickness or length that you want to acquire.

Hair Wefts

Not many people outside of the African-Caribbean community have heard of hair wefts. Hair wefts have been used for years by African-Caribbean women. A hair weft is a piece of synthetic hair that is sewn into one’s hair, giving it a semi-permanent effect (just as if you were to glue in hair extensions).
A hair weft looks somewhat like a “half-wig”. The hair weft clips from one side of your head to the other side of the head, and is clipped under the top layer of hair. This will help give your hair a fuller effect, especially as it covers both sides of the head and the back. You can find hair wefts in a number of different colors, lengths and styles, from curly to wavy to straight.

Which is Best for Me?

Both are great for adding that extra length of hair, but there are some benefits to using one above the other. For example, clip in hair extensions allow you the option of adding a lot of different contrasting colors and highlights to your hair. You can create different looks for your hair simply by clipping in a different color, rather than going through the tedious and expensive task of dying your hair different shades to give it that multidimensional effect.

If you want to obtain a thicker effect, then a hair weft is definitely the way to go. Hair wefts instantly add more thickness to any hair ‘do in just a few clicks, whereas clip in hair extensions would take several packs to achieve this very same effect. 

You can get your own extensions from local beauty supply shops such as Sallys. 

Building Self Esteem And Body Image Part 1

Men and women alike are bombarded daily with media images of the "perfect" person who has been painted, sprayed, blown-dry and dressed to perfection by professionals paid to create the image of flawless beauty.  Great work if you can get it, but what does life offer the majority of us who want to look and feel great even if we're not supermodel material? A beautiful, golden tan from your local professional spray tanner may be just the enhancement needed to highlight your natural qualities. First and foremost, a person must realize that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Everyone has a different idea of beauty, and what appeals to one person may not necessarily appeal to another. It's all a matter of taste--all you have to do is discover your unique qualities and make the most of them.  This is why spray tanning has become one of the fastest growing personal-care services in the country. More and more Americans have come to realize that regardless of a person's shape or size, a well- maintained tan helps maximize a person's physical qualities. Consumers who utilize the service of spray tanning are not afraid to get out and show themselves to their best advantage.  A Golden Tan Builds Confidence.  What is confidence? Confidence is the way you feel about yourself based upon your perception of how effectively you deal with the world. Simply put, it is how you evaluate you. People with a great deal of confidence feel good about themselves and think that they are capable of accomplishing most tasks that confront them.  Self-confidence affects our entire life. In general, the rougher the going gets on the outside, the greater the need for self-worth on the inside. Your ability to overcome obstacles is enhanced if you have high self-esteem. You are who you think you are--no more, no less. That's why it pays to think, feel and look your best.  Confidence in adulthood is often an elusive quality. However, people know it when they see it, and it's totally irresistible. There is no person sexier or more beautiful than one with full confidence in themselves and their abilities. Confidence from a well-tanned individual radiates like a light, drawing opportunities and admirers in miraculous ways. Expressing a sincere and honest belief in yourself and your abilities doesn't mean you are conceited. Just take a good, long look at yourself, finding your strengths and using them to project the utmost confidence.  Adults always have looked for ways to boost their self-confidence by physical enhancements. For example, if people compliment us on our great smile, we may consider whitening our teeth to make them even more noticeable. To even further enhance their smiles, women may use only the highest-quality lipsticks in flattering colors. They also keep their lips soft and supple with top-of-the-line lip balms.  Is thick, rich hair one of your best assets? To build self-confidence in this area, you may have considered highlighting your hair to bring out its natural beauty. Undoubtedly, you use only the best hair products and don't mind spending money on them. If hair is one of your best natural qualities, you have probably experimented with a variety of styles to find which are the most flattering and match your personality the best.  Maybe you have a trim figure. If so, you wear clothes that show it off. You have developed the self-confidence that allows you to strut your stuff without being afraid of looking good. While most people envy you, they also respect you for having the courage to live up to your greatest potential. 

Confessions Of A Spray Tan Artist

I never thought I'd make a living staring at nearly naked women and men. But I decided to open my own spray-tanning business to give people that tanned look without frying their skin.  Unlike tanning booths, which offer some degree of anonymity, there's no room for modesty here. Everything's done by hand, so I have to be all up in people's business. Not surprisingly, I've seen and heard things that would make even a bronzed chick's cheeks turn red.  But nothing fazes me.  Most women calm down once they realize how much I'll be able to help them. I can put a tiny triangle above the breasts to create cleavage, shade a bit of darkness under the butt for extra lift, or conceal cellulite by using a slightly warmer color on the backs of the thighs. It's all about subtlety.  As sunless tanning grows in popularity, I see more fake-tanorexics. They've lost their grasp on what looks natural. To them, the darker the better. Let me tell you, it's scary. No matter what your skin tone, you should never go more than two shades deeper. A spray tan only lasts about 7-10 days, and if you're too dark, you'll look like you have dirty, marbled skin when the color starts to fade.  And that ladies and gents is a big no-no!!  Now heres a little FYI for you...did you know that men make up about 15 percent of my clientele? Most of them are straight guys who got dragged along for their girlfriend's appointment and start coming back for their own work. They always want to go superlight, so no one (especially women) will be able to tell. It's a shame they have no sense of subtlety in other areas. Something about being semi-nude in front of a woman on her knees makes most men act like stupid frat boys. Bottom line is I love what I do and I love the people that I meet.   I've got an amazing business that makes women's butts look smaller-how many people can say that?

Welcome Bronzed Beauties!!

Welcome!!!  If you have made it to this blog then it must mean one of two things...you are interested in tanning or you are interested in me...whatever the reason, I am glad you stopped by.  Now, a little bit about myself and why I started my own spray tan business.  My mom tells me I was born tan, now whether that means I was tanning in the womb or not, I do not know.  All I know is I was always tan and always in the sun.  I spent my younger years and all throughout my early 20's either at the pool, beach, or tanning bed.  Sometimes when I felt frisky I would lay out at the pool all day and then go to the tanning bed (the same day).  Sick, I know.  If I hadn't stopped tanning when I did, I imagine I would look like somewhere between a California Raisin or a LAZETTI Italian Made Perforated Leather Designer Handbag.  I was 25 when I had my first mole removed because it had changed shape and color...I remember crying and crying when I left the doctors office.  I just knew I had cancer and my life was over...luckily they caught it BEFORE it turned to cancer (the pathology reports showed severe cell changes, so it was just a matter of time before it did).  That entire ordeal scared me for all of the time it took to get the news back that I was ok, and was going to live.  I was back at the tanning salon the next day.  And so it continued.  The non-stop cooking of my poor skin- not even the new wrinkles I would find on my chest were enough to stop me, I was convinced the darker I was the less noticeable the would be- come to find out everyone was calling me "zipper chest" and "skin craft head" behind my back.  Seven moles with cell changes, chest wrinkles, high blood pressure red skin, AND the numerous reports of how bad the tanning bed really was for you later- I finally stopped.  Thats it.  I haven't been back to a tanning bed since.  Now, Im not going to lie to you, there are three of them at my gym and sometimes I find myself walking by the bed only to hear it call my name...oh how I long to lay in it.  I even have a twinge of jealousy towards the people I see leaving those rooms looking bright eyed and brown.  Then I look down at the tops of my hands which could almost be confused for a 90 year old womans and I remember why it's not me lying in that bed.  I tried the Mystic Tans and the Versa Spa.  The Versa Spa wasn't that bad but I found that the color was a little too dark for me.  Then I had a girl that would come to my house and tan me, she did an awesome job and I LOVED the results- but she moved...and didnt take me with her.  So, there I was.  All alone, wrinkled, and white.  I had to do something and fast- this was an emergency.  Now, a little trivia that some of you may not know, while I am diverse in my tastes and interests, Cosmetology was and has always been an interest of mine.  I went to Cosmetology School in 2000- and even received an award for "Vocational Excellence" while I was there.  Cool- so then what?  I went and worked at a grocery store or something stupid like that.  I have always had a interest in the skin, nails, tanning, not so much hair (I like having mine done) and Ive been known to do a pretty fierce french braid back in the day, but for now I will stick to what I am good at.   I decided to start my spray tan business because I LOVE making people feel good about themselves, making them feel beautiful...and lets face it having tan skin just makes life better. Your teeth appear whiter, your skin looks healthier and beautiful, and your positive energy increases. The most important thing is that it is safe, a safe alternative to the tanning bed.  Maybe I can keep one less person from looking like they were in a knife fight from having numerous sun damaged skin spots removed.  Who knows?!?!  Bottom line is I love to tan and I now know that I can not achieve the color that I like from the tanning bed, it is no longer an option for me.  Sunless Spray Tanning allows me to be tan and choose different shades- depending on what I want.  Natural for the cooler months and a deep bronze for the summer. I cant reverse the damage I have already done to my skin, but I can protect it from future damage.  So, that is how Bronzed and Beautiful came about- that is why I am here.  To protect my skin and yours, to educate tanners about the dangers of irresponsible tanning, and to add to the beauty that all of you already have, in a safe way.