Text and photos by Katie Kerl, Copyright 2019
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Summer Beauty Short Cuts
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In a fast paced world working six days a week does not leave me much time to do personal upkeep that requires appointments, except for my hair. I have had to find a few short cuts to get myself and the house summer ready.
First, I started with my hair in the winter. I was a deep merlot red that I actually box died myself. Yes, I committed that mortal sin. I was feeling like I needed a change, and wanted to be blonde again after about 5 years of dark hair.
I found one of Philly’s local top blonde colorists Charlie Cash on Instagram. I shot him a message after seeing his following and great transformations. We hit it off right away in conversation which was great. Let’s be honest here; no one wants to pay hundreds of dollars to a snooty bitch hair stylist and not get what you are asking for. I sent him a photo of what I was eventually hoping to achieve. He said no problem. I then made an appointment.
Upon arrival I could not have been more pleased. Sulimay’s Urban Salon is a family owned business. Rita, Charlie’s girlfriend is the owner. Everyone working there is the nicest! After three visits, I am exactly where I want to be with my hair, a very pretty strawberry blonde. There is no evidence I ever box died it. They offer more than reasonable pricing for being in the city. I have paid upwards of almost $500 with my hair length to not be satisfied in the past. They are located in Fishtown, and also have a coordinating barber shop. Check them out if you are looking for a major hair makeover this summer.
To keep my blonde from looking brassy, I found a highly rated purple shampoo and conditioner from Artnaturals. It is under $30 for the Duo and you can see results from the review photos before you buy. It leaves my hair debris free, and freshly blonde as walking out of the salon. I also purchased their vitamin C hydrating facial toner. After a week of use; I left the house with no makeup on for the first time in years! It was $9 and the least expensive working toner I have purchased.
Onto teeth whitening, I drink a lot of coffee and tea. Needless to say they were in need of refreshing. I did not want to pay $800 to have my sensitive teeth professionally done just to have them ache for days after. I give people credit that can deal with that particular beauty pain. That is not one I can endure.
I did a bit or research on which UV light home whitening kit would be best for my sensitive teeth. I picked Cali White Vegan Teeth Whitening System with no peroxide. After two uses, I absolutely saw the difference in my teeth. There was zero sensitivity, I was worried with no peroxide there would be no change. I also did not want a drastic overnight change in my teeth in this instance. That way it would be less noticeable to other people, yet make me feel better at the same time. It is an affordable kit as well! I am all about finding the less expensive most effective answer to things. The whole kit cost $34 on Amazon. It came with two whitening gel syringes, mouth piece, UV light, and a 20% off refill gel coupon, which I will be using in another week to re-up. I am that satisfied with the results!
Next, I needed to get this Casper skin a little more golden before hitting the beach in my bikini. Again, not having time for a spray tan appointment; I ordered Skinerals Self Tanner Organic Sunless Bronzer. I also ordered the mitts for easy application. It went on evenly, had a nice brown sugar scent, did not get on my clothing overnight, and left me bronze not orange. I applied it before bed after exfoliating, but gave my pores some time to close first to avoid dotting. I woke up the next day – showered, and was three shades darker. The tan lasted about 7 days; through sweat, beach, pool, and hot tub!
Lastly, would it be summer without BBQing & cocktails? My housewarming present from my father, after deciding to stay in Northern Liberties permanently, was a new grill and tools. My boyfriend and I have been using it almost daily for dinner. Before Memorial Day I also snagged First Leaf Wine Club’s holiday promo offer; $21 for 6 bottles of award winning wines. Part of me was very skeptical about the quality. I felt pretty stupid after it arrived in three days, on time, and intact. First Leaf gives you the wine origin information, what it pairs best with, and the retail list price. We tried three so far and they have been fantastic! I will keep the subscription going for sure. You select the frequency in the delivery, mix of origin, white, red, or both. I highly suggest it for every wine lover.
I hope some of my summer beauty short cuts are helpful to make the most out of your time off in the sun.
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About The Author: Katie Kerl. Born 1984. Raised in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Education: Drexel University studied Behavioral Psychology. Occupation: commercial/ residential design Philadelphia resident since 2011 . Hobbies include: Foodie, whiskey drinker, fitness , cooking , tattoos & house music lover. Instagram: @kerl_up_with_kate. Email: Kate.Kerl32@gmail.com. To access additional articles by Katie Kerl, click here: https://tonywardstudio.com/blog/katie-kerl-flooded-with-love/