A Brighter Smile

Christopher L. King, D.D.S.
1835 Graves Mill Road . Forest
434.316.9220

There's something about a white and bright smile that does wonders for a beauty boost, so we decided to take a little trip to Forest and see Dr. Christopher King for a teeth brightening session. We were both pretty nervous about the visit, after all, there aren't too many people in this world that wake up and think "Yay! Today I get to see the dentist! Hoorah! Wooohooo!" But Dr. King and his assistant Dorothy put us to ease and explained everything step by step. The process is simple: polish, gel application, relax, remove, and repeat up to three times. (And did we mention the super cool shades you get to wear?) 

Much to our surprise, our teeth were already in pretty good shape, but after our session we could definitely see a difference. Our teeth seemed brighter, white, and sparkled. To really see the most effective results, 2-3 applications is suggested. But we were thrilled after just one, and spent the whole ride home smiling! (We're pretty sure the other drivers on the road thought we were either creepy or on something, but we don't care.) (Please note: the over-the-counter products are great for maintenance, but a professional whitening is by far the most economical and safest way to go. OTC products have a shelf life, and at $30-50 a box you'd have to use a lot of it to see the same immediate results we got at Dr. King's office. Also, stay clear of teeth whitening "stations" at malls and other venues... you want a professionally trained person applying chemicals to your teeth. Traveling teeth whitening opportunities going from salon to salons aren't as good either. This your teeth you're talking about, ladies.)

Unwanted Hair and Body Wraps

Allura MD Laser Aesthetics
1900 Braeburn Drive . Salem
540.444.0488
Our friends at Allura MD Laser Aesthetics in Roanoke helped us take care of some "unwanted" issues (like hair and inches!). Joey tried laser hair removal, and Amy tried a body wrap. 

Laser hair removal is just that... your hair being permanently removed with a laser. The laser kills your hair follicle at the root and after several sessions to cover a normal hair growth period (usually every four to six weeks) you won't have to shave ever again! Please note: you cannot have this procedure done if your hair is blonde and if you have been tanning, so plan accordingly. (The laser picks up color, so blonde hair isn't seen by the laser and tan skin will just cause the laser to think you're hair is in places it isn't and it will result in burning. Not a good thing. So do before summer skin sets in or well after it fades.)


Joey has already had her armpits done in previous sessions ("It's worth every penny, ladies!") and is beginning the hair on her legs. Be sure to only use highly trained technicians in a professional, licensed setting. You DO NOT want someone "experimenting" or learning on you because you are dealing with sensitive areas that could result in some serious burns... or NO hair removal at all and then you've just wasted your money. (In addition to underarms and legs, you can laser your bikini, or go for the gutso with a Brazilian, as well as lips, backs, nipples, and anywhere else you have hair where you'd rather not. Take your hairy men in too!) Be prepared for about 6 or more sessions for complete hair removal in whichever area you're going with. (But you will see noticeably less hair after the first session. Stick with all that are suggested by your technician to see the best results.) 


Okay, how does it feel? It isn't as bad as waxing, in Joey's opinion. Your technician can adjust the level to make it more comfortable... but who said the price of beauty was painless. A cooling gel is used for the laser to conduct with your skin. The wand used (looks sort of like a vibrator/"muscle massager") is on your skin and the technician moves it back and forth while pressing on the machine for the laser to "zap" the hair. It is a brief sensation, almost like a small rubber band being snapped on your skin, but it isn't even that bad. (They can numb your area too for added comfort.) Try laser hair removal! (You could "test the waters" with a smaller area before you splurge on a larger area like your legs if you're still chicken. The larger the area, the more time consuming... means the more money it will cost. So opt smaller to see if you want to go the hairless route!)

Amy's pretty content on sticking with her razors, so she opted for a slimming body wrap while at Allura. The It Works! mother/daughter team, Pam and Kaye Sowder happened to be having a wrap party at the office the same day, so we were luckily able to sit in and listen to Pam (Co-founder and Marketing Director) speak about this remarkable product.


The thing that caught our ear was that these body wraps have been in the Emmy and Oscar awards celebrity gift bags and the It Works! Team was on location for the Sex & the City movie to some last minute wrapping on Kim Cattrall! With big timers like these, Amy was ready to get started! The Ultimate Body Applicator was easy to put on, smelled amazing, and proved to be effective. Amy lost 3 inches in 45 minutes! The best part was the firmness of her skin... and it's not just a quick fix. These results last, and the wraps can be applied to any "problem" area. Honestly, we are thrilled that this product is FINALLY catching on in our area. (Since it's so popular everywhere else in the country, and beyond!)

Tanning

Sun Tan City
4208 Franklin Road . Roanoke
540.989.1800

Ok, we'll preface this topic by saying that yes; we understand that unprotected sun or UV exposure can be hazardous to your health. But we also know that a lot of Bella Girls are still doing it and we wanted to show you that IF you're going to tan there are safer options out there. So please remember that if you are going to expose your skin to direct or artificial sunlight, please be careful, do so in moderation, and use skin protection whenever possible! That being said, one of the first issues we tacked was our "Casperesque" skin tone. 


We went to Sun Tan City in Roanoke for their expertise and advice. Gone are the days of laying in a tanning bed for 20+ minutes. Today there are beds that offer much less exposure to artificial sunlight in far less time. Sun Tan City offers the most selection of options around and they can create a custom tanning plan to get the results you want. Joey tried a few sessions of their different leveled tanning beds just to get a light summer glow, and Amy tried a combination of spray tanning and the stand up bed.

While regular tanning sessions can do the trick, the staff at Sun Tan City recommends interchanging spray tan and bed use. It cuts down the UV exposure time, and really helps to boost and keep your color! Spray tanning isn't as intimidating as it may seem. (If you have seen the Friends episode where Ross goofs, and sprays his front side multiple times, you can appreciate the nerves that Amy was feeling!) But the staff walked her through everything, and made sure she was comfortable with the machine before setting her free. Her tan lasted about 5 days, where as Joey's tan, while more gradual, has lasted for weeks. It's funny how a little color made us feel sassy again. (And thinner!)