SUMMER HAIR UPDATE

Word on the street (and over at Vogue Australia ) is that balayage, ombre, dipped ends hair or whatever you want to call it, is on the way OUT.

And to that, I say good riddance. It's just not for me, despite the fact that I have had natural balayage locks for more than 6 months now. You see, for years I had an amazing blonde colour (truly, it was a beautiful colour) but time, money and the health of my hair meant I had to stop bleaching my dark hair.
Cue a few packets of hair dye and my blonde do had been turned into a light brown mane.

12 months down the track, many washes and pregnancy-hormoned-hair-growth-spurt... and the light brown in the ends of my hair has slowly but surely washed out, and my dark brown roots have grown almost half way down.

A natural (and completely unintentional) subtle ombre look;

But as I mentioned - its not for me. I prefer more of a polished colour and don't do the boho/stylishly unkept look very well. Add to the fact that my ends are like straw - I've decided to go the chop. Now that Baby B is cooking nicely, I feel more comfortable colouring my hair, so I am going for this brunette version of the Lauren Conrad long bob. I predict that flat but vibrant colours will be be the trend once the female population realises that OMBRE.IS.OVER

I will be stressing the importance of the LONGness of the bob (I still want to be able to tie it up reasonably high) to my hairdresser. And the importance of, you know, making me look as HOT as LC does (if only!)

The results...

Stay tuned

xoxo

BIKINIS MY BOOBIES LOVE

Anyone with boobs bigger than a B cup will know what I am saying when bikini shopping is the WORST (like, even more of a nightmare than bikini shopping is for most)

Little string bikinis hardly cover my headlights - let alone provide any support (or modesty). Team that with the fact that I am not blessed with a bikini perfect body (far, far, far, far away from it) I was starting to think I would have to resort to wearing a tankini or one peice.

I long gave up my insecurities about going to the beach/pool. I am most definitely a water baby and I can tell you that a (well fitted) bikini is much more comfortable to swim in that a tankini top or one peice. I hate the feeling of the water coming up under your swimmers. In saying that - I have learnt (the hard way) that I do need to invest in well fitted swimwear - not tie up traingle bikinis for this beach babe whale.

So team the curvy d cup Karina with the tight a$$ Karina and my serach for cheapish yet supportive and fashionable swimmers lead me to http://www.asos.com/

I got this animalistic bikini top back in September

ASOS Leopard Print 50s style bikini

It had served me & my tat tats well over the last few weekends... however I now have the style permanentely tanned onto my skin - so I think its time to get another one to remove the halter tan lines frmo my chest.
Although this one is also hatler, the straps are a lot thinner and in a different position to the above - so I think I am going to order this one later in the week

ASOS Blue underwire Bikini

Here are a few tips I have for buying the perfect bikini - if you aren't lucky enough to be able to make a garbage bag bikini look good

*  Buy what fits - not what is fashionable. A string bikini on anyone bigger than a size 0 does not look good if you ask me. Nor do high wasited bottoms.

* Try to avoid tie up backs... I find they are not supportive enough and you risk ending up with a bow tan line

* Also avoid big bows, buckles, cut outs... unless you like the whole weird tan line thing

* For us Aussies - shop in the off season. ASOS has a lot of their bikinis on sale because it is coming into winter over in the UK

* Buy a few different styles - halter, straps, strapless, thin straps etc. this way if you are spending a few days in a row in the sun you can ulternate the straps line

* If you are big busted I would steer clear of detachable straps. A little plastic clip is not going to hold my girls up and usually results in the clip breaking or coming undone.

* You don't have to buy a set. I nearly always wear black or navy bottoms and just mix & match the tops (In my mind, this is a slimming effect). If your bottom half is your best asset you should wear a plain colour on top and wear print/bold coloured bottoms

* Be confident. Seriously - I truly believe gals wearing boardshorts and singlets make themselves look x 10 bigger. No one is judging you and once you get over the insecurity you will enjoy going to the beach so much more. Trust me!

* Wear sunscreen. This is a true case of the pot calling the kettle black, beacuse I rarely do. I have the freckles/mole to show this - and if I am still blogging in 20+ years I will show you how leathery my skin will be.

If you know of any other places to buy real women bikinis, let me know =)

xoxo