My friend Leah Hawker is a hot shot photographer (brag, brag, brag) who specialises in shooting naked chicas. Because of this, she does a lot of work for Playboy and has made friendlies with le bunnies. In October, however, she’s exhibiting a ‘pin up’ collection featuring a bunch of bunny girls styled as 1950’s ‘vintage’ pin ups soos hierdie:

Leah invited me to pop in on one of the shoots so I could whore her exhibition out on my blog while snapping up a few ‘how to look super hot when you’re naked’ beauty tips from the make-up artist, hair stylist and the girls themselves.

..

..

The make-up artist the day I popped in was Colleen van Rensberg who’s a freakin’ wizard when it comes to painting faces.

..

Colleen’s top ‘so you’re going to be showing a bit of skin’ tip is to exfoliate your entire bod to stimulate blood flow. This will ensure your skin has a nice, healthy-looking glow that’ll pick up on camera.

When it comes to things like spider veins, bruises or stretchmarks, these usually get rukked out in post-production. Still, if you want to hide them with make-up, don’t do it with foundation. ‘Rather use concealer as it’s thicker and then set it with a bit of translucent powder so it doesn’t budge’, she says. Her favourite concealer-powder combo?

Hair-wise, I got to watch celeb hair stylist Chantal Morgan create the most amazing rolletjie­­-thing (as seen on Yolandi in the pic up above) and turn Mpho’s extensions into a head of glamorous curls (and yes, she got a rolletjie thing too…)

When Chantal’s not doing hair on Top Billing or Espresso, she works as a mobile hairstylist and will actually come to your house to sort you out, be it for a cut, colour or a sexy-style for a big night out. Kiffness, ne?

If you’re into any kind of regular heat-styling, she reckons you should invest in a good heat-protection product and hair repair masque. Her favourites are these guys:

In regards to the actual bunnies’ beauty secrets; Yolandi Malherbe was quick to recommend Bio-Oil. She says she uses it for ‘absolutely everything’; in the bath, in her hair as nourishing treatment, all over her bod. She even uses it on her face at night when she needs an intensive moisture boost.

She’s also a fan of Dirty Worx Bling It On! shimmer lotion, exclusive to Clicks:

Mpho’s is a big Bio-Oil fan too and likes to mix it with Lux body lotion. She was rocking the most lush-looking eyelash extensions and says she got them done at a salon called Casablanca in Matjhabeng, Welkom.

Yolandi Wiggett, Playboy SA’s Miss February, reckons having a tan, which is easy to fake, is a great way to disguise any flaws. She also says it’s best to forgo eating two hours before a shoot or at least avoid anything that could cause a little bloat; think wheat, dairy, fizzy drinks and the like.

I’m now dying to see how all Leah’s piccies turned out so I’m looking forward to seeing them displayed at Exposure Gallery in Woodstock as part of the Nostalgia Now exhibition that starts in October. For more information, pop on over here.

Love, love

Leigh