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    Leandri de Kock

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    Should you change your surname after marriage?

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    Changing your surname to your partner’s last name is often a custom that is expected and not discussed until someone questions why. In a shift away from tradition, it is becoming more common for partners to keep their own surnames and ditch the admin that comes with changing your name.

    Where the tradition stems from

    Historically, it all started in medieval England where people were known by their Christian names – just a first name. It started to go pear-shaped when names were recycled and there were more than one person with the same name. To distinguish between individuals as well as families, a second name, or surname rather, was chosen for the familial ‘group’ according to occupation or location. It was only later that women who got married had to take on the surname of the man purely based on superiority and patriarchy. This meant the woman had no legal identity apart from the man, and of course the same went for a newborn baby girl who automatically took her father’s surname. Women couldn’t vote, sign a contract, be independently recognised or even start a business if they did not take their husband’s surname.

    Changing your name

    Our identity is intimately linked to our names. Letting go of that name is hard – it feels like you’re letting go of a part of yourself, even though it won’t change who you are. For example, you could have an Indian surname but marrying a German might make you feel like you can’t identify with your heritage anymore.

    Let’s be honest, it’s a shlep. In most cases it’s the woman who will change her maiden name or opt for a hyphenated version of her surname and her husband’s surname. In same-sex marriages it’s the same situation, but it all comes down to the legal aspect of changing every single account or legal document of your entire existence. In South Africa, as of 1992 it is legal for a woman to use her maiden surname, her husband’s surname or, as of 1977, a double-barreled surname after she is married. It’s a lengthy process but it’s not impossible, just be prepared to stand in a few queues.

    Keeping your maiden name

    For women who have a professional career or a namesake business, it will make things much easier should you wish to keep your maiden name. If you are also the last female family member in line holding onto your specific surname, you might want to keep it.

    With that said, changing your surname to match you husband’s means you will pass it on to your children, so that everyone in your immediate family shares the the same surname. This traveling easier for everyone and it creates a feeling of unity.

    The bottomline is…

    It is totally up to you. It is no longer a law that a wife absolutely has to take her husband’s surname, you have to consider what it means to you. More often than not the decision will be purely emotional, rather than practical.

    ALSO SEE: Get creative with your wedding dress after the big day

    Get creative with your wedding dress after the big day

    Feature image: Unsplash

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    In Advice

    What to eat before and on your wedding day

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    Feeling your absolute best on your wedding day is non-negotiable. We asked Loredana Loots, an integrative nutrition and holistic health coach, for her advice on what to eat before and on your wedding day:

    “With only a few days to go and a whirlwind of emotions, arrangements and final prep, you may (understandably) not give much thought about what you are eating and drinking. What you consume actually has a major impact on how feel – physically, mentally and emotionally. Every couple deserves to look and feel like a million bucks on their special day. These handy food secrets are a must!

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    Post-summer tips for renewed and recharged hair
    In Hair

    Post-summer tips for renewed and recharged hair

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    It’s most likely that we all went through a little phase where we neglected our hair this past summer. Read on to find out how you can undo the damage.

    1. Get a trim

    If your hair is splitting and breaking off, or even shedding more than it usually would, it’s time for a decent trim. Broken, extremely fragile hair is often a result of irreversible damage and cannot be repaired, no matter how many treatments you do! There’s no point in holding on to dead ends, so take the plunge and snip off as much of the damage as possible to give your hair the best chance of repairing and growing out even stronger.

    2. Avoid chemicals

    As tempting as it may be to dive in to a fresh batch of bleach, there’s a much easier way to recharge blonde tones until your next salon visit. The Wella Invigo Blonde Recharge Shampoo uses cool tones of violet to brighten and add vibrancy to coloured blonde hair. It helps to eliminate the all-familiar yellow, brassy tones blondes experience after one too many pool dips and not enough moisture.

    3. Boost your colour

    Going darker is often the solution to help hair look a little healthier and to revive its overall glossy appearance. By adding darker and warmer tones to your hair, it will help to neutralise brassy tones without compromising on shine. Aftercare is important too, to keep the colour from fading and to help replenish your stands with every wash. At-home treatments that mimic those used in salons can extend your colour for weeks on end and maintain than just-came-from-the-salon look. Wella’s Invigo Color Brilliance range does just that, consisting of a shampoo, conditioner, mask and BB spray, completing your entire routine with one fell swoop.

    4. Avoid unnecessary damage

    Whether it’s a tight undo, an everyday ponytail or extra brushing and untangling of windswept hair, there’s no denying that our hair goes through more mechanical damage in summer than in winter. Try to only brush hair on wash days, with the help of a wide-toothed comb, a detangling product or some extra conditioner. You can also wrap your hair in a silk or satin scarf to help avoid hair knotting while sleeping, and making use of scrunchies or anti-snag hair ties.

    5. Restore

    You’ll know your hair is damaged when it feels rough and has a lacklustre appearance, especially if it’s longer and has been exposed to more wear and tear with every summer. A deeply hydrating, reparative treatment will help to plump up the follicles and restore some elasticity to brittle and dehydrated hair. The Wella Invigo Nutri-Enrich range is a trusted solution and a go-to for all hair types that suffer from post-summer damage. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it replenishes stressed locks by using the nourishing powers of Oleic Acid and Panthenol, along with strengthening peptides found in Goji Berry.

    Find a participating salon near you HERE or shop the ranges online HERE.

    Picture: Unsplash

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    How to rescue your hair from (too much) festive fun
    In Advice

    How to rescue your hair from (too much) festive fun

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    It’s all fun and games until your hair starts paying for it. To help whip summer-stressed hair back into a healthier shape and prevent any further damage from occurring, we need to take a more gentle approach. Here’s how:

    Recovery mode

    One of the first, most effective treatments to repair sun-damaged hair, is with a hot oil treatment. And better yet, you can do it at home without spending a cent. Mix half a cup of olive oil with two vitamin E capsules and heat up in the microwave for no more than 10 seconds. Then, work the mixture through from the ends upward and leave for about an hour, then shampoo and condition as normal. However, if the damage is particularly bad, it might be time to schedule a trim to get rid of dead ends, prevent split ends from progressing, and stimulate new, healthy growth.

    Repair damage

    While a long dip on a hot day is total bliss, your hair won’t agree. Chlorinated water in swimming pools exposes your hair to harmful chemicals, sea water contributes to dryness, along with the sun being a constant, too. After a swim, always rinse hair thoroughly to keep damage to a minimum, then follow up with a replenishing hair routine. The Wella Fusion range offers exactly that –  a hair recovery range that instantly helps to repair damaged hair and make it more resilient. Not only does it remove impurities, it also penetrates the hair follicle to leave it smoother and more elastic. Did we mention it’s suitable for colour-treated hair, too? Check.
    Shop online or find a salon nearest to you: linktr.ee/wellaprofessionals_sa

    Prevent and protect

    Avoid overwashing and, with that, stripping precious oils from your hair by choosing your products carefully. We know that amped up heat means extra sweat, sunscreen and product build-up, which inevitably feeds the need for extra shampoos on top of your normal routine. When hair is already in a compromised state, focus on putting back, rather than stripping away. Opt for light moisture mists with UV and pollution filters, deep treatment masks once a week combined with lighter conditioners for in-between, and shampoos specifically for your hair type to avoid weighing your locks down or having to wash too often. Oh, and a hat too, for good measure!

    Rethink styling

    With extra humidity in the air, it’s pointless to try and boost volume or force hair into a perfect style if it’s just going to fall flat anyway. Instead, embrace your natural texture and work with that instead. Reach for a curl cream if you want to tone down frizz on naturally curly hair, a salt spray to add effortless texture to straighter styles, or a finishing oil to boost shine and add extra moisture. This will also avoid unnecessary heat and styling damage, preventing further wear and tear.

    Picture: Unsplash

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    5 Things you need in your honeymoon beauty survival kit
    In Accessories

    5 Things you need in your honeymoon beauty survival kit

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    Your honeymoon is supposed to be stress-free, glowing and romantic. Make sure you’re prepped and ready for anything with these 5 beauty essentials.

    1. Sunscreen

    Rain or shine, sun or snow, sunscreen is one thing you cannot leave at home. From the very beginning of your getaway, from being in a car or on an airplane, you have to make sure your skin is properly protected, especially because the environment might be different to what you know.

    A broad spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF, pollution filters and blue light filters will ensure you’re well protected in any season and in any environment. If you’re worried about the coral reefs, reach for a mineral sunscreen (containing zinc oxide instead of oxybenzone), but if you’re heading to the slopes, a chemical one will last longer and won’t make you look chalky.

    2. Fragrance

    Take something with you other than your wedding day fragrance, as this will ensure you capture a honeymoon scent memory as well. Sometimes it’s nice to try something different, but pick something that still falls within the fragrance family you know and love to avoid disappointment. Even better, pick something that you and your partner can both use, so that a whiff of it years later will instantly transport you back.

    3. Hair care

    Honeymoon hair means it needs as much of a break, and down time, as you’ll be having. After the stress of wedding planning and the damage your hair might have undergone on the day itself, you’ll want to make sure you’re giving your hair an extra bit of love. Try to make use of as little as possible heat to dry and style your hair, and rather focus on repairing damage and allowing it to have a bit of a breather.

    Maybe you need some help to instantly repair your hair and bring it back to its renewed, elastic shape – then the Wella Fusion range is for you! Packed with reparative ingredients to help strengthen hair and prevent further breakage, it works great on all hair types, but especially colour treated and heat damaged hair.

    On the other hand, a more natural approach would include the Elements range, which is free of sulphates, parabens and artificial colourants. It’s ideal for those looking for something a little lighter, while still packing a punch when it comes to regenerative and moisturising power.

    Get your hands on an Elements or Fusion Festive Pack HERE or visit your nearest Wella Professionals salon.

    4. Multi-purpose make-up

    When space is sparse you need to only pack what you absolutely need. Go for creamy lipsticks that you can use on your lips and your cheeks, bronzing palettes that can easily translate as eyeshadow, stick foundations than can either be used as concealer or built up to achieve more coverage, and of course, a waterproof mascara to perk up your peepers that’s happy tears, rain and swim safe.

    5. A good make-up remover

    Nothing is more frustrating than being away from home and not being able to remove your make-up properly. Test and trial a make-up remover, preferably something like a micellar water which is more gentle on the eyes, to be sure all remnants can be removed. A brilliant way to test if a make-up remover is honeymoon-worthy is to try one on the night of your wedding when make-up has been applied heavier than usual.

    Picture/s: Unsplash

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    Cool ways to heat up your hair this Spring
    In Advice

    Cool ways to heat up your hair this Spring

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    Spring has sprung, so why should your hair still be stuck in winter? From a subtle trim to a dramatic colour change, we’re showing you four ways to up your hair’s cool factor this Spring.

    A cut above the rest

    It doesn’t take a dramatic change or a major snip to have a transformational hair moment, so before you reach for the scissors, listen up. An easy way to completely change your look without any long term commitment, is by going for some well-placed layers, or better yet, bangs. These options won’t require you to change the overall length of your hair, but will still give you some new-found movement. You could also try changing up the style of cut you’d normally get, like going for a blunt cut rather than feathered, or something leaning more towards asymmetrical. Small changes can make you feel like a brand new person, and isn’t that what spring is all about?

    Pin-up girl

    This Spring, it’s all about bringing retro back. Opt for slicked back hair with a few pins, slides or barrettes keeping it all together. Alternatively, wash and blow-dry hair into a smooth, voluminous ‘do, making use of some mousse, a blow-dry cream and a big barrel brush. For the curly girls, take it up a notch and really celebrate those curls by grabbing a curling cream or gel, and working it through damp hair to define curls without weighing it down.

    Dive right in

    Even though it’s not quite warm enough to go for ocean dips yet, we can still achieve beachy waves without needing the actual waves. Surfergirl hair is not only effortless and cool, but saves on unnecessary heat damage and mechanical wear and tear as well. Regardless of your hair texture, beachy waves is all about working with the texture you have and creating a more tousled, natural effect. Work a small amount of sea salt spray through the lengths of your clean, towel-dried hair and comb through to distribute evenly. Scrunch the hair to encourage a tousled effect, or plait hair into a few rough braids and leave to air dry.

    Hot or cold

    But in this case, why not both?! Science has revolutionised the beauty industry, and it isn’t stopping any time soon. So why not jump on the bandwagon and try out, not one, but two tones for your locks this Spring? Wella’s Opal-Essence range gives you one colour result with both warm and cool light reflections and a milky metallic sheen, thanks to a proprietary artificial intelligence process where unique colour desire is captured. From copper peach to silver mauve, the 5 no-depth permanent shades means the light is less absorbed, producing warm and cool hues depending on the bend of each hair.
    For a completely unique colour update, visit your nearest Wella Professionals salon near you:  https://linktr.ee/wellaprofessionals_sa
    Feature image: Unsplash
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    How to wash your hair like a colourist

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    Ever wondered why your hair stays cleaner, smoother and glossier after a salon wash? Well, wonder no more. Here’s how you can wash your hair like a pro at home:

    Detangle first

    Before you wet your hair, it’s essential you detangle hair gently first. Starting at the ends, gently work your way up to the roots so that you don’t have to detangle hair when it’s wet, and therefore more vulnerable. If you have some extra time, apply a few drops of a nourishing oil, like almond, to the ends and distribute with your comb as you work upwards.
    How to wash your hair like a colourist
    Source: Unsplash

    Lather up

    Something that’s seemingly easy to do has a right and a wrong way too. Taking your time is key in making sure you’re washing your scalp properly, and being super gentle when creating a lather with your shampoo. Don’t rub hair vigorously, but rather focus on washing your scalp properly and then squeezing the shampoo through the lengths. If it doesn’t foam up right away, add a little more water to your scalp and start massaging again. If it’s absolutely necessary, shampoo for a second time.
    How to wash your hair like a colourist
    Source: Pexels

    Honeymoon hair

    Using products specifically designed for colour-treated hair will make a world’s difference in keeping your colour as vibrant as it looked on your wedding day. Look for products that have a low pH level, which will enable better colour retention and softer, smoother strands.
    The Invigo Color Brilliance range from Wella is a great option for those wanting to keep their salon colour in tip top shape. With 7 weeks of colour protection and instant vibrancy, you’ll get high-performance results at home, while keeping your wallet happy. Find it HERE.
    How to wash your hair like a colourist
    Source: supplied

    Rinse, rinse, rinse

    The biggest difference between a salon wash and an at-home wash, is also the most simple – the rinse. Women, especially brides with a million things to do, are strapped for time and rush the process of properly rinsing shampoo and conditioner from their hair. By rinsing the product properly and making sure there’s no more residue on your scalp, your roots will stay fresh longer and you won’t need to wash as often.

    Never skip conditioner

    Hair that’s moisturised will reflect light better, so that you hair looks shinier and healthier. That said, less is definitely more in this case, so go easy on the conditioner. Take a small amount and only apply it to the ends, so that it doesn’t weigh your roots down. Then, take a deep breath and rinse with cold water to lock the cuticles and boost the shine.
    Written by: Leandri de Kock
    Feature image: Unsplash
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