How not to look a state on a beach holiday

[Enzbear]

First beach holiday abroad in two years coming up in 3 weeks. Yay.
I've been busy googling some (staged) beachy pictures knowing I never quite pull it off.
But going to give it my best shot anyway-
I'm slim but extremely pale so probably going to start building up a fake tan.
Bought new bikini's and kaftan thing.
Have a few hats as my hair doesn't fair well. Tried beachy waves once, absolute disaster!
Pedi and paint toe nails.
Any other tips? What do you do? Especially with your hair? Products etc?

If you buy a proper Panama you can roll it up without losing shape.
I like wearing a big linen shirt on the way to the pool. A boho beach bag I’ve got from a previous holiday.
I put my hair in an angel plait then when I take it out it’s all wavy for the evening.
I wear flip flops by the pool - havienanas last forever, then silver sandals for town trips or in the evening as they go with everything.
I rotate 3 bikinis - I’m big boobed and like Freya best- I get them in the sale.
Khaki tapered trousers are good in the evening to stop the mosquitoes

@battenburgHatday childhood trauma maybe? I’m not judging anyone because I have difficult, curly/frizzy hair so understand the struggle but my mum would never take us swimming or come in the pool with us on holiday when I was a child because she was worried about her contact lenses and I did kind of resent that, even though it’s obviously not her fault that she can’t see!

Lanolips do a nice tinted lip balm with spf, it's about £8 but imo more moisturising than chapstick.

Wots an angel plait?!

I’m hoping for a Caribbean holiday next winter and this is my plan …
Underarm , bikini line , upper lip and legs all to be sugared ( I prefer this to waxing )
Pedicure
Eyelash tint
Spray tan ( never had one before , I’m 61 so it’s about time )
Taking Aveda hair rescue ( don’t remember what it’s called , In a green tube )
Hair grips and bands to tie hair back on the beach ( I love to swim and snorkel )
Beach flip flops , hair scarf - I don’t like sun hats
Prescription sunglasses so I can read
Nice shorts , sundress or 2 , long dress , cotton T-shirt’s , sarong etc
Sun lotion ( I use Cetaphil 50 on my face all year round )
There’s probably more to go on the list , but it’s a start

All the large hat wearers - how do you avoid them getting squashed in your suitcase?!

You can usually get away with folding a straw hat front to back and packing it- it should recover- but I take mine in my hand luggage. The other advantage of that is you can go out in the sun while you’re waiting for transfers, hotel check in etc, without worrying about burning. I always put a mini sunscreen in my carry-on toiletries for the same reason.

I usually had a spray tan before and had eye lash extensions - not the crazy spider ones, just subtle.

For hair, how long is it? Can you do a loose plait?

I pack boyshort style bikini bottoms, tankini tops.

Linen tunic dresses, cotton beach coverups, nice tshirts, shorts, one fancy pair of sandals, and flip flops and Tevas for the beach. Floaty scarf to cover my hair, which I take off while swimming. Huge sunglasses.

No spray tan here, and very little natural tan either. I am resigned to my Daz blue white look and I'm very conscious of the danger of skin cancer. I bring SPF 50 sunscreen and apply liberally and frequently.

I get my nails seen to when I get back - they're dried out from the salty water and chlorine. I treat them with Burt's Bees lemon cuticle cream routinely so they're in fairly good nick most of the time.

I’m also a little surprised/impressed at the not getting hair wet for a week. On a hot sunny beach Holiday my hair would be a minging smelly mess after not washing it for a week. Mine has to be washed daily it always feels much dirtier on holiday I think due to the heat and sweating.

I also bring Carmex with SPF - lips can get horribly burned.

Which type of scarves do you use for your hair?

Like this one (size and shape - not necessarily the pattern, or any pattern, although I think this one is quite cute for around the pool at the moment).

@Happy36

Like this one (size and shape - not necessarily the pattern, or any pattern, although I think this one is quite cute for around the pool at the moment).

Thank you @Happy36 - I’m going to search for some videos with tips for tying now.

@bigchanges1

Which type of scarves do you use for your hair?

I have a couple of large silk scarves I got second hand off eBay. Pretty designs and I’m not heartbroken if I lose them. Make sure they are real silk though

I'd get a lash lift and tint and brow shape and tint. Makes a huge difference.
If you're pale, a wide brim hat and big sunglasses

Mosquito bites ... years ago on here a poster recommended a Vit D tablet each day a week before you go and throughout your holiday. Apparently it means we give off a whiff the buggers don't like so repels them but humans can't smell it.

Then a daily antihistamine in case you are bitten ... damage limitation.

Then the least stinky insect repellent you can get. I used this stuff when I last went abroad. I still like perfume in the evening and didn't want it to clash so used this stuff sparingly on neck and shoulders then tonnes on legs and feet where the little fuckers really like to nibble

www.alfrescoshop.com/pages/about-alfresco

After baking my face and body throughout my life I'm paranoid about over exposure in the sun now but I love how much better I look with a tan. I like to add tanning drops to my night cream and fake tan legs/décolleté areas on alternate nights when away so can stay in the shade except for very early am and evening sun but look like I've been away.

On our last foreign holiday, I got bitten on the eyelid, and the next day my entire eye had swollen shut! I looked like the elephant man's less attractive sister. The big sunglasses came into their own for a few days (though looked a bit odd at night...😖)

I've googled Russian manicure and some of the cuticles look bloody sore

Usual as above. Spray tan, nails, toes, eyebrows. I don’t wet my hair either or really go in the pool at all as the chlorine takes my tan off but realise that’s not for everyone. I have a real struggle with my hair though as it’s extensions

My other reason for fake tan is I'm slight obsessed with shaving my legs - can't bear how hairy they have to get for waxing and I really like how razor and good moisturiser leave my legs looking shiny - so this has the unfortunate effect of exfoliating my tan off. And I exfoliate once a week when away too

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal

On our last foreign holiday, I got bitten on the eyelid, and the next day my entire eye had swollen shut! I looked like the elephant man's less attractive sister. The big sunglasses came into their own for a few days (though looked a bit odd at night...😖)

Ahhh I literally feel your pain this has also happened to me

Over shirt I think looks great as a cover up rather than a kaftan. I have a line linen pin stripe one from m and s. Size up.

Hat- the flipper the better and don’t get a super snug fit that way you won’t get hat head.

Head scarves can be great for wrapping up your whole hair/head with a conditioning mask on later in the day and still staying out in the sun. Big patterned ones with a good sized knot at the top of the head or nape of the neck. Very chic.

Mix and match bikinis. I only wear black and I always change into a dry pair of bottoms after being in the water. NO THRUSH THANKYOU!

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

I've googled Russian manicure and some of the cuticles look bloody sore

I've never had sore cuticles. It depends on how skilled the technician is, I suppose.

Oh I think the best beach holidays are where you just relax, jump into the sea or pool and wrap yourself in an old beach towel

Just relax and enjoy and honestly nobody cares how you look (in the nicest possible way). I love how over the course of holiday zi care less and less and just enjoy it. That’s the point of a holiday, more fun than worrying about beach fashion

Enjoy. Am a bit jealous as would looooove a beach holiday myself

Dutch braids with kanekalon hair. Lash shape tint and lamination. Lash extensions (pool water does ruin them though), or lash lift and tint. Fake tan. Wax if you want to. Manicure and pedicure.