Review: Party prep tanning in Allure at Patrick Gildea Hairdressing

By Rachel McLaughlin • 6 years ago

Dec
2018

Patrick Gildea Hairdressing in Letterkenny is renowned for hair excellence, but did you know there’s a dazzling beauty salon there too? Rachel checks out their professional spray tan:

Tucked in the back of Patrick Gildea’s Hairdressing salon lies a real hidden gem – the boutique beauty room Allure.

Allure is perfect for Christmas party prep when you want your hair, nails, make-up, or treatments done all under one roof. Plus, there’s availability in the run-up to Christmas, so get booking.

Allure @Patrick Gildea Hairdressing Letterkenny

I visited Allure last week for a tanning treatment and to see the impressive custom-built spray tanning room. You won’t find the usual pop-up black tent here, but a high-end changing area and bright tiled space just for tanning.

Tanning Room in Allure @Patrick Gildea Hairdressing Letterkenny

Make-up artist Catherine McLaughlin was there to introduce me to the Vita Liberata Spray Tan.

The full-body spray took no time at all, and the flash dry finish of Vita Liberata was brilliant so there’s no standing about feeling sticky.

I love Vita Liberata because it’s an Irish brand and leaves a great natural colour (I went for Medium shade, but Allure can go as dark as you prefer). It also contains nourishing natural ingredients like Aloe Vera which hydrates the skin.

There was no glittery finish in the tan, so if you’re after a dramatic shine for nighttime then you can pop on a highlighting powder yourself, I did this for the photo below:

I usually stay away from spray tans because my skin has dry areas, such as the shoulders and underarms, but you can see from the photos that this tan went on perfectly – meaning every party top is an option this Christmas!

Vita Liberata Spray Tan at Allure

The last time I had a spray tan was 10 years ago, so Catherine had a quick guide for me for the best aftercare. Avoiding oil-based shower products and exfoliants was easy. Avoiding the rain on bare legs on a Saturday night out wasn’t, but amazingly the tan didn’t budge.

I’m writing this review five days (and six showers) after the treatment, and the colour is still there. It’s fading slightly, but so softly that there are no streaks or patches.

A full body Vita Liberata tan is €29 and half body is €20. It’s a great treat and one thing off your mind if you have lots of events on the calendar or a special occasion coming up.

The new Allure Beauty Room uses only premium brands for treatments, such as Lycon Wax, Vita Liberata Tan, Giorgio Armani, Mac and Urban Decay makeup and OPI nails. You can escape to the back of the salon for facials, massages and personalised skin care using Dermalogica. See the full treatment menu here: www.patrickgildea.ie/beauty

Private treatment room in Allure @ Patrick Gildea Hairdressing

I love the luxury of the space and brands used here. The treatments are just as personalised as the hairdressing, so it’s well worth a visit to see what the team can do for you.