The sun is out and the beach is on my mind! No one wants to feel uncomfortable or ashamed in a bikini.  We all starting thinking about getting in shape for the summer back in March, but time goes by fast, and next thing you know it’s already bikini season, and you don’t feel bikini ready. Here are a few tips to get ready!

1. Nutrition

Abs are made in the kitchen!! I truly believe that getting that bikini body is 80% what you are fueling your body with and 20% exercise. Eat lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, have lots of protein (chicken, fish, turkey, tofu, eggs, etc.) and plan ahead! Eat more vegetables: While ‘dieting’ we often focus on what we can’t eat, and we forget about about the foods that we can enjoy.  Eat unlimited vegetables, enjoy them and be creative with how you cook them.  Not only will this nourish your body, but it will alleviate some of your cravings.  Stop drinking alcohol: Most people hate hearing this, but the truth hurts.  Other than wine being filled with antioxidants, alcohol has no benefits to your body.  Alcohol is full of unnecessary calories and sugar that not only make it more difficult for your body to burn fat, but can leave you feeling bloated and lethargic. If it’s too difficult to cut out alcohol, try minimizing your intake to 1-2 glasses on the weekend.

2. Exercise

Exercising will make you feel stronger, healthier, more fit, help you burn more calories, give you energy, will help you eat better, sleep better and over all, FEEL BETTER! I can’t stress enough the importance of exercise. Schedule your workouts in advance so you make sure that you go! Include it in your work day so you don’t skip it. So many people limit themselves because they feel like they have to be in a gym. One of my biggest tips is to just do something every day. It doesn’t have to be an hour out of your day, it could be 10 minutes doing a quick high intensity workout and then you’re done! It’s all about consistency and creating habits rather than just going to the gym when it’s convenient. Personally I’m obsessed with doing abs and booty exercises. I find them fun, easy and most of it you can do with just your body weight!

3. Hydrate Yourself

I think this one speaks for itself, but keeping hydrated helps the body to naturally cleanse out , helps your skin glow and leaves your body feeling great! Consuming enough water should be the first thing you change in your diet.  Water helps lubricate your muscles and joints, helps flush out toxins and waste from your body and it helps improves the vitality of your skin.  At the end of the day, drinking water will help you look and feel better.

4. Get Your Bronze On

There’s nothing worse than showing up to a tropical beach and being the whitest person on the sand…or just blending into the sand completely. You gotta get a little pre-tan happening so that you have the confidence to strip down and frolic into the warm waves. I recommend getting a spray-tan the day before you go.  No harmful UV rays needed! Find a swimsuit that showcases your assets: There are so many swimsuits on the market that flatter different body types. Find a swimsuit that flatters your body, and showcases your assets and spray tan.  Keep looking till you find a swimsuit that makes you feel confident and beautiful!

5. Love Yourself and Be Confident in Your Own Skin

Regardless of your shape and size you will NEVER be happy or feel bikini body ready unless you can truly love who you are as a person first. Lets face it, most of us will never look like a Victoria Secret swimsuit model.  Learn to be OK with that, and to appreciate your body just the way it is. That does not mean that you shouldn’t work to improve your body, but learn how to appreciate it every step of the way.  If you have curves OWN IT, and if you are skin and bone, own that too! Everyone was created differently and beautifully! Stop comparing your body to others, and learn how to love your strengths, and your flaws. If you truly want to feel good in your own skin every day, it comes to being able to look at yourself in the mirror and boldly say the words “You are beautiful” even when you don’t feel like it! Surround yourself with people that encourage and support you! You can never gain healthy self-love just from people complimenting you. It has to come from within YOU!

Getting a Spray Tan for Your Competition

Spray tanning and its many facets is a wonderful way to give your skin a healthy glow while avoiding the harmful UV radiation in tanning beds. How you look onstage is the end result of months of training and preparation for your pageant. Unfortunately, the harsh lights of the stage “wash out” everyone’s skin tone, and highlight flaws, scars, and imperfections. Getting a spray tan as part of your pageant prep will not only even out your skin tone, but will also make your skin look tan and healthy when you are in the    spotlight. To achieve a glow that will withstand harsh stage lighting, make sure you go with a professional spray tan!

Here are  a few spray tanning tips for the perfect pageant spray tan!

Local Pageants

If you are doing a local pageant, definitely get your spray tan a day or two before the pageant. Make sure you wax/shave beforehand and that you get your tan AFTER your manicure, pedicure, massage, or any other spa treatment that might possibly exfoliate the skin.

State Pageants

State pageants are usually a week in length and usually the spray tan you get pre-pageant is not going to last the entire time. Most of the girls get spray tanned the evening before swimsuit/physical fitness and then again before the final night.

Miss Maryland Pageant

Next week, Miss Maryland will be hosting their state pageant in Hagerstown,MD to find the best girl to represent our state in the Miss America Pageant. Good luck to all of my clients that will be competing for the title of Miss Maryland and Miss Maryland Outstanding Teen!

It is always important to protect your skin from sun damage. When you have ink on your body it becomes even more important. A tattoo is a work of art and protecting them from sun damage is a must. Since the ink is in the skin, anything that can change your skin can change your tattoo.

Spray tanning is a great alternative to sun tanning and will help your tattoos stay as bright as the day they were inked. Tanning solutions will not harm tattoos. If you have yellow or light tones, it can temporarily darken the color. The solution will not affect your tattoo, it will just appear tanned. Once your tan fades, your tattoo will be back to normal and the full colors of your tattoo will return. If you have a new tattoo, we recommend you wait until it’s fully healed before having a spray tan. If you have been spray tanned, wait until your tan has completely worn off before you choose to be inked. You want your tattoo artist to have the best canvas possible!

Some of our (tattooed) client’s opinion on spray tanning……

“I can’t tan out in the sun. I just burn. And I don’t want to ruin my tattoos. I’ve spent too much money and hours to ruin them because I want a tan. I’ve learned to embrace my porcelain skin. But with getting a spray tan, I know it’s a healthier way to have a golden glow and it keeps my tattoos looking bright no matter what! Spray tans haven’t dis-colored my tattoos in any way. I highly recommend getting spray tans if you have tattoos.”

-Erica

“I’ve always loved how much of a solid color my spray tans give me. After getting my sleeve done I was pretty nervous my tattoo might look dull/faded, as it has a lot of color. Thankfully, it didn’t at all!! My tattoo is still just as vibrant and full of color. I’m SO glad it works like that, because I’m extremely pale and would burn to a crisp if I tried anything other than spray tanning.”

-Rachael

As always, continue to practice safe sun! Wear sunblock and stay away from UV rays!!

When people are preparing for their spray tan, the first thing they think of is “I have to shave my legs before I go”. The answer is, if you are within 24 hours of your appointment, DO NOT SHAVE. You need to make sure you shave or waxed 24 hours before your spray tan so you give your pores enough time to close up properly before you get your spray tan. If you shave the day of your spray tan, the bronzer will get lodged in your pores and give your legs a freckly look. Some of it will come out after the first shower, but not all.