Few of us are blessed with Rapunzel hair, radiant skin or a set of perfect nails. But we can be, thanks to beauty products that allow us to fake it. Now we can sport glam locks, dazzling nails and gorgeous skin like we were born with them.
Tempting Tresses: Hair Extensions
Do you have thin hair that needs a boost in the va-va voom department? Have you ever wanted to have longer hair, but only for a day or two? Maybe you’d just like to have that perfect ’do on your wedding day. If any of these scenarios apply to you, hair extensions may be your new BFF.
Hair extensions come in synthetic varieties or may be made of real human hair. They also come as clip-in for temporary length or can be more permanent. Shop around for a product that closely matches your hair color and texture. You may be able to purchase human hair extensions that are professionally dyed to your particular color so they match even better. Some extensions even allow you to dye them yourself.{relatedarticles}
Make sure the extensions are properly fitted. Traction alopecia -- hair loss brought on by pulling the hair too tight - is a concern for some who use hair extensions. During an appearance on Good Morning America, Dr. Eric Schweiger warned viewers. “If you’re going to do any extensions, just use them for a few hours and take them out. That’s the safest way.”
Still, there are permanent extensions that may be bonded or woven into your natural hair. “Everybody can wear hair extensions,” hair stylist Angelo David told Good Morning America. “You just need to wear extensions that fit your head.” Whether you decide to go for permanent extensions or the more temporary clip-in varieties, use caution and make sure they are properly "attached" to your natural hair.
How much will extensions put you back? It depends on the type, length and quality. In general, clip-ins like those available from HeadKandy may cost between $150 and $200. However, salon applied extensions, such as Klix®, can cost much more.
Flawless Nails: Acrylic and Gel Artificial Nails
If you’re a nail-biter, have brittle nails, just plain hate giving yourself a manicure or simply want to glam-up your look for a weekend, artificial nails may just be the thing for you.{relatedarticles}
Self-Applied Nails
Store-bought glue-on nails have come a long way thanks to brands like Broadway® and Revlon® to name a couple. They’re inexpensive, widely available and easy to apply.
You’ll find glue-on nails in several different lengths from the very short to the very long. Some come in eye-popping colors and patterns, while others offer more traditional looks like the French manicure. Of course, you can always opt for a more natural nail.
Some brands, like Broadway®, offer pressure-applied nails that you simply press onto your natural nail after peeling off the protective strip to reveal the adhesive backing. How easy is that?
The downside of do-it-yourself artificial nails is that they don’t last as long as salon-applied nails (usually no more than a week).
Salon Nails
If you’re headed to the salon for a perfect set of ten, you may be in for an acrylic or gel nail application. Both will yield great results, but there are some differences.{relatedarticles}
Acrylic nails are widely popular, strong and resilient, and they’re usually the least expensive salon option. But there’s a downside, too.
“A disadvantage of acrylic, opposed to gel nails, is that it ultimately requires the use of a strong chemical solvent to remove the acrylics,” says the Jolie Hair and Beauty Academy. “It also doesn’t promote healthy nail growth like gel nails do.”
Gel nails, on the other hand, allow gel layers to be brushed directly onto the nail as a protective shield. For added length, a tip can be applied. Either way, say the experts at Jolie, gel “creates a thinner, more flexible artificial nail that looks more natural than acrylic.”
If you’re going the gel route, be prepared for your digits to spend some time under a UV lamp. More than once. Gel goes on in coats (like fingernail polish) and cures beneath the light between applications.
Radiant Skin: Highlighters, Bronzers and Self-Tanners
If you left the dewy glow of youth behind eons ago, or if you want a little “fake bake” to golden you up, give the latest highlighters, bronzers and self tanning sprays a shot. They’re easy to use and won’t break the bank — most are available for under $30.{relatedarticles}
Highlighters
“If you don't use a highlighter then you're missing out on the easiest way to create a youthful, dewy complexion,” says TotalBeauty. “A great highlighter can perk up your complexion, accentuate the features you love, and even camouflage aging skin.”
Just as if you were shopping for a foundation, you want to choose a highlighter that matches your skin tone. If your skin is a lighter tone, highlighters with pink tints work well. If you have dark skin, warmer highlighters like those with beige, brown, and chocolate tints work well.
Bronzers and Self-Tanners
Bronzers and self-tanners also require proper matching to your skin tone for best results. Don’t try to go too dark by choosing a product several shades darker than your natural skin tone or your skin might look more oompa-loompa than sun-bathed beauty.
Bronzers come in powders, creams and sprays. Effects from a bronzer are evident shortly after application, and can be removed with simple soap and water. Bronzers work great for a temporary glow, whereas self-tanners offer more lasting results.{relatedarticles}
The active ingredient in most self-tanners is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which reacts with the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin to produce a visible tan. It takes a few hours to see results, but the tan will last as long as it takes for the dead skin cells to slough off of your skin.
For an all-over tan, think sprays or mists instead of creams. "They go on evenly and don't require rubbing, which causes streaks," Victoria’s Secret makeup artist Meredith Baraf tells Women’s Health. Her pick? Victoria's Secret Bare Bronze Self-Tanning Body Spray.
