We interview TV presenter, director, ex-Miss South Africa and Veet Ambassador Melinda Bam about her top health and beauty tips for the festive season.
Q: How much weight do you gain over the festive season?
A: I don’t actually mind putting on a few kilos, because at the end of the day I think I have worked hard to stay nicely in shape. And to be able to indulge in a few things over the holidays is a novelty that will never wear off. So usually I fluctuate a good two to three kilos, but I always monitor this so that I can bounce back in the New Year and get straight to work.
Q: How do you maintain that healthy balance?
A: People always think that having a healthy routine is like this extremely rigorous exercise regime that you have to keep to every single day and wake up at four o’clock in the morning. To me, it has become so much a part of my lifestyle that I don’t know anything different. If I have a tough day at work I put on my running shoes and go for a jog. So things like that have become so true to my lifestyle that it doesn’t really feel like an effort, I enjoy it. As much as I enjoy a glass of wine, I enjoy my training.
Q: How do you look after your hair and skin during the summer holidays?
A: This holiday, I have the best of both worlds. We’ll be going to the West Coast for a bit, so I will have summer and sea and a nice bit of tanning. And then we will be going to Europe for a ski holiday. So then I’ll have the beautiful snow and a white Christmas. It really is the best of both worlds!
When I go to the beach I’ve been very focused on the fact that it is a holiday. So it needs to not only be a holiday for me, but it needs to be a holiday for my skin, it needs to be a holiday for my hair – and for my feet from all the high heels! So I really don’t mind wearing a lot less make up and making sure that I wear skin masks. I also wear hair masks when I go out in the sun.
Putting sunscreen on my hair is also a very big tip that I have learned – especially having blonde hair. Things like that have helped me to nourish my skin and my hair, so that when the New Year comes I don’t sit with pigmentation and split ends. Then I look my best because my skin and my hair have also had a rest.
Q: And what are your secrets for looking healthy during the winter holidays?
A: I think having the drastic change in seasons from a beautiful warm summer’s day to icy snow really takes its toll on your hair, skin and nails. So being able to prep yourself for the cold and really hydrate your skin is important. A lot of people think that you need to hydrate only when it’s hot – you need to hydrate when it’s cold! I give my hair a break by not using harsh utensils on my hair and by putting coconut oil in my hair. As well as making sure that I go out with a mask in my hair if I am having a bun day. I can wear a beautiful beanie, people don’t need to see everything. No-one will ever know!
Q: How can we get amazing legs like yours?
A: It’s a balance between having that healthy lifestyle that I spoke about and being able to train well and make sure that I have shapely calves, I really put a lot of effort in at the gym. But, also to make sure that I really take good care of my skin, that I don’t overindulge with the sun and get a horrible sun burn, and that I nourish my skin. A spray tan will also do you wonders because it will save your skin from pigmentation and sun damage.
But also to stay beautifully groomed throughout my December holiday because it is bikini season, and you don’t want any unruly hair sticking out anywhere. Because it doesn’t matter how good your body looks, and it doesn’t matter how amazing your bikini is and how amazing your makeup is – if you have some unruly hairs somewhere that’s just going to be such a passion killer on every level.
Q: So have you ever been in a situation where you are stuck with a skirt and hairy legs?
A: I haven’t been in that situation because I have become very well prepared. I have the most amazing gizmos and gadgets and things that I have packed in my bag that I know I will always go to. The Veet Sensitive Touch Trimmer, is my ultimate, especially for summer. It works for my eyebrows, my legs and my bikini. It even works for my husband’s beard.
