Happy Friday to all..Here is some early morning inspiration for hair that we adore. We love the casual curls that still manage to be classy and stylish. Thank you to Linda Chaja Phtography and the beautiful bride for sharing this beautiful-do!
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Friday, July 30, 2010
Hair Inspiration II
Happy Friday to all..Here is some early morning inspiration for hair that we adore. We love the casual curls that still manage to be classy and stylish. Thank you to Linda Chaja Phtography and the beautiful bride for sharing this beautiful-do!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Summer heat reminders
As the sun glares through the windows making it hard to do just about anything, I wanted to be sure to remind our summer brides (and grooms, bridesmaids, guests etc..) a few things in order to prepare for the summer heat.
1- Tan lines. Nothing is more distracting then halter tan lines on a bride with a strapless dress. And we all know that once those tan lines start, it is always hard to make them go away entirely. With everything on our brains, its easy to forget to pull down the straps so my best advice is to go buy a cheap bathing suit top that mimics the neckine of the gown and just stick with it for most of the summer. Old navy has great options that cost next to nothing and might just be your summer savior to a glowing, not distracting, tan. I know many brides saying its not a big deal because they can get spray tanned over the white, but many times these brides are disappointed when their are still faint reminders of those unmatching tops. In any event, if you do happen to forget, spray tan and make up can definately help fade the lines a bit. Just be sure to do a practice run before the big day as we say about everything.
2-Use SPF. Yes, I know you want to maximize the tanning time that is limited with the hustle and bustle of summer and wedding planning, but the reality is, patience is your best friend in this one. Take it from a bride who has to work pretty hard to achieve a good tan despite the fact that she is Sicilian. I had many temptations to load on the oil, but at the end of the day, Im glad I had people reminding me how unattractive burn marks and peeling are. No one wants to show up on there wedding day with the remnants of a 2 week old sunburn resulting in uneven color and lots of peeling skin. Instead, try to really maximize your time. Use SPF daily, but increase your sun exposure by doing things like sitting outside on your lunch breaks. My sister and I would meet up for 20 minutes to my apartments rooftop last summer just to get a little extra color! If the sun is out after work, sit outside. You might not see immediate results, but every extra minute spent in the exposure will add to the tan, not to mention give you some Vitamin C, something definately needed during this crazy time. And most importantly, embrace your skin and its color. Most of us feel better with a little tan, but who says being tan is the only beautiful option. Know your skin and its limits.
3-Moisturize. Cannot stress this enough. No one wants to feel like a crocodile while their being hugged by hundreds of family and friends. Keep your skin moist from your face all the way down to your feet!
4-Drink lots of water. Overload on it. The summer is hot and heat really does take a toll on our bodies. In order to look and feel our best, we must continue to hydrate ourselves. So grab yourself a new, trendy, reuseable bottle and fill it up over and over again. Carry it with you to work, school, appointments..whereever!
5-Avoid extra salty foods. This is especially important in the days leading up to your wedding in order to avoid any excess bloating, but particulary important during the heat. This can also be helped by the above, so just another reason to keep refilling that bottle!
6-Protect your hair. So you listened to our previous post and got that extra blonde shade 3 months before to ensure perfection, but now you have to maintain it. Be sure to protect your hair while you are out in the heat with head scarfs, hats, or hair products which have some sort of protection. Even if you do not color your hair, it is important to protect it in order to keep its texture and shine for the big day!
These are just a few of our reminders, many more to come, but in the meantime, any summer heat reminders to share with our readers?
1- Tan lines. Nothing is more distracting then halter tan lines on a bride with a strapless dress. And we all know that once those tan lines start, it is always hard to make them go away entirely. With everything on our brains, its easy to forget to pull down the straps so my best advice is to go buy a cheap bathing suit top that mimics the neckine of the gown and just stick with it for most of the summer. Old navy has great options that cost next to nothing and might just be your summer savior to a glowing, not distracting, tan. I know many brides saying its not a big deal because they can get spray tanned over the white, but many times these brides are disappointed when their are still faint reminders of those unmatching tops. In any event, if you do happen to forget, spray tan and make up can definately help fade the lines a bit. Just be sure to do a practice run before the big day as we say about everything.
2-Use SPF. Yes, I know you want to maximize the tanning time that is limited with the hustle and bustle of summer and wedding planning, but the reality is, patience is your best friend in this one. Take it from a bride who has to work pretty hard to achieve a good tan despite the fact that she is Sicilian. I had many temptations to load on the oil, but at the end of the day, Im glad I had people reminding me how unattractive burn marks and peeling are. No one wants to show up on there wedding day with the remnants of a 2 week old sunburn resulting in uneven color and lots of peeling skin. Instead, try to really maximize your time. Use SPF daily, but increase your sun exposure by doing things like sitting outside on your lunch breaks. My sister and I would meet up for 20 minutes to my apartments rooftop last summer just to get a little extra color! If the sun is out after work, sit outside. You might not see immediate results, but every extra minute spent in the exposure will add to the tan, not to mention give you some Vitamin C, something definately needed during this crazy time. And most importantly, embrace your skin and its color. Most of us feel better with a little tan, but who says being tan is the only beautiful option. Know your skin and its limits.
3-Moisturize. Cannot stress this enough. No one wants to feel like a crocodile while their being hugged by hundreds of family and friends. Keep your skin moist from your face all the way down to your feet!
4-Drink lots of water. Overload on it. The summer is hot and heat really does take a toll on our bodies. In order to look and feel our best, we must continue to hydrate ourselves. So grab yourself a new, trendy, reuseable bottle and fill it up over and over again. Carry it with you to work, school, appointments..whereever!
5-Avoid extra salty foods. This is especially important in the days leading up to your wedding in order to avoid any excess bloating, but particulary important during the heat. This can also be helped by the above, so just another reason to keep refilling that bottle!
6-Protect your hair. So you listened to our previous post and got that extra blonde shade 3 months before to ensure perfection, but now you have to maintain it. Be sure to protect your hair while you are out in the heat with head scarfs, hats, or hair products which have some sort of protection. Even if you do not color your hair, it is important to protect it in order to keep its texture and shine for the big day!
These are just a few of our reminders, many more to come, but in the meantime, any summer heat reminders to share with our readers?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Hair Inspiration
We posted on hair sanity and how to make sure that your hair looks great on your wedding day, but we haven't actually posted hair inspirations and weren't sure we were ever going to until I saw this.I absolutely adore this sleek chignon with its flower perfectly situated to give it a sweet, smooth and summery vibe. It is classic, sexy and simply perfect. Thank you to the beautiful bride & Style Me Pretty for allowing us to share and be inspiredI am sure there will be much more hair inspiration to come as we begin looking through...
Monday, June 21, 2010
Hair Sanity
Waking up on the first day of summer and I noticed that along with the new season has come much less manageable hair. This got me thinking about summer wedding hair, for brides, maids and even guests. Unfortunately, we can never predict the weather ahead, but it here are a few tips to keep in mind.
1- Know your hair and how it works and don't think just because your wedding is a magical day that your hair will miraculously do something it has never done before. Example, women with pin straight hair that doesn't hold a curl shouldn't expect to leave their hair down and have flowy, natural curls. If the curl doesnt stay 364 days of the year, chances are it won't on your wedding day either. Instead, embrace what it does do! Women with pin straight hair tend to have hair that can do any sort of up do without an ounce of frizz. Use this to your advantage.
2-Speaking of frizz, if you have it, practice taming it in the months leading up to your wedding. Try different products, it is all trial and error with our hair on what works and what doesn't. Look for hair sprays that hold, but don't turn hard and conditioners that provide good shine and control. I wouldn't suggest spending a load on these products since many of them are made out of similiar ingredients, but I personally cannot help but splurge on Phytodefrisant and Morrocan Oil, both of which have transformed hair miracles for me.
3- As we said in an earlier post, no crazy new hair cuts or colors too close to the date. Hair changes its body and texture when cut and dyed. Try to stick to doing this at least 2 weeks-month before the big day and be sure to get a hair trial after it has been done!
4- Have a plan B. Knowing my sometimes unmanageable curls and frizz might not be able to handle the humidity of a hot, August day, I decided to have a backup plan in case of rain or humid weather. I knew I wanted my hair half up and half down with loose curls and had gone for my hair trial imagining this style, but I decided I would put it in a loose chignon down and to the side if the weather did not hold up. Fortunately, Someone from above was shining down for us as we had one of the most beautiful days in one of the most rainy NY summer seasons, but had it not gone my way, I knew that I had tested and trialed other options. This helps to keep sane on the big day
5-In regards to knowing your hair, know how it works too. Most hair stylists suggest hair actually being a little bit dirty before setting it for a style. This doesn't mean greasy though and so as women, we need to get a gage on what our hair limits are. Many brides opt to get a blow out for their rehearsal, usually a night or two before, and then keep that as the last time they wash their hair before the big day. Other brides know that their hair cannot last that long and so they opt to shower and blow dry it the night before bed, while others use their natural wet hair to mold their hair-do. Whatever your hair limits are, know them and work them to your advantage.
Any other hair tips to share for our readers? Let us know! We would love to hear...
1- Know your hair and how it works and don't think just because your wedding is a magical day that your hair will miraculously do something it has never done before. Example, women with pin straight hair that doesn't hold a curl shouldn't expect to leave their hair down and have flowy, natural curls. If the curl doesnt stay 364 days of the year, chances are it won't on your wedding day either. Instead, embrace what it does do! Women with pin straight hair tend to have hair that can do any sort of up do without an ounce of frizz. Use this to your advantage.
2-Speaking of frizz, if you have it, practice taming it in the months leading up to your wedding. Try different products, it is all trial and error with our hair on what works and what doesn't. Look for hair sprays that hold, but don't turn hard and conditioners that provide good shine and control. I wouldn't suggest spending a load on these products since many of them are made out of similiar ingredients, but I personally cannot help but splurge on Phytodefrisant and Morrocan Oil, both of which have transformed hair miracles for me.
3- As we said in an earlier post, no crazy new hair cuts or colors too close to the date. Hair changes its body and texture when cut and dyed. Try to stick to doing this at least 2 weeks-month before the big day and be sure to get a hair trial after it has been done!
4- Have a plan B. Knowing my sometimes unmanageable curls and frizz might not be able to handle the humidity of a hot, August day, I decided to have a backup plan in case of rain or humid weather. I knew I wanted my hair half up and half down with loose curls and had gone for my hair trial imagining this style, but I decided I would put it in a loose chignon down and to the side if the weather did not hold up. Fortunately, Someone from above was shining down for us as we had one of the most beautiful days in one of the most rainy NY summer seasons, but had it not gone my way, I knew that I had tested and trialed other options. This helps to keep sane on the big day
5-In regards to knowing your hair, know how it works too. Most hair stylists suggest hair actually being a little bit dirty before setting it for a style. This doesn't mean greasy though and so as women, we need to get a gage on what our hair limits are. Many brides opt to get a blow out for their rehearsal, usually a night or two before, and then keep that as the last time they wash their hair before the big day. Other brides know that their hair cannot last that long and so they opt to shower and blow dry it the night before bed, while others use their natural wet hair to mold their hair-do. Whatever your hair limits are, know them and work them to your advantage.
Any other hair tips to share for our readers? Let us know! We would love to hear...
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Random Beauty Thought to Keep You Sane
Despite our various countdowns to the big day, sometimes months start flying by and you approach the 2-3 month mark much quicker then expected. At this time, the wedding planning "lull" has zipped by leaving you in what I like to call the wedding "tornado." The to do list that was tackled now has a zillion new additions, many of which involve a lot of time and thought. With that, emotions are running high and excitement is through the roof making it hard to think clearly at time.Let us do the thinking for you...Before it gets to the 2-3 month mark, start thinking about beauty in advance. What sorts of special things would you like done for the wedding? Make a list and try them out. This is the perfect type of thing to do during that lull. Any changes that you may want for the big day should happen at least 6 months before.
Heres a list of common ones to get you started:
-New medication Changes-Any additions or removals of medications should be avoided right before the big day. This goes without explanation as to why, but side effects, allergic reactions etc. can really damper a brides mood, not to mention really have a mood effect! (This includes visits to the dermatologist for your face and Gynocologist for Birth Control) This category also include any new vitamins and/or supplements.
-Facials/Peels
-Hair cuts/coloring-whether it be a new stylist, new do or coloring a shade lighter(even if it is JUST one shade), do it a 6 months before to ensure that you are satisfied with how it turns out. Then book your appt for right before the big day!
-Hair removal-lasar, waxing, threading whatever you decide be sure to make sure you try it out before.
-Makeup/Lotions-Any new foundations or powders should be tested out in advance to be sure that your skin doesn't have any adverse reactions
-Self Tanning-that glowing look might turn you into an orange or rub off on your white gown. Try it before to ensure that you love it. This is one that can typically be done about a month before, but at least give enough time for it to wear off it you don't.
-Any changes in diet/exercise- You could easily over exert yourself if leaving it to the end and you wouldn't want to have to sit out of all the dancing just because you decided to do an extreme boot camp after sitting on the couch for two years. My advice is avoid tdiets all together and begin to eat more healthily 6 months before. That being said any crash diet you plan to try out the week/day of, should at least be given a "test run." Cutting out certain food groups could cause for some sort of body or GI reaction that you do not want to be dealing with on the big day!
This might seem like a silly tip, but trust me, 2-3 months before the big day, freak outs and insanity kicks in. All of a sudden ideas such as eyelash dying or lengthening that were laughable prior, begin to surface and it becomes hard to tease out reality and this insanity.
Start making the list now to avoid such disasters xoxo
What crazy things did you try or think to try right before the big day ?
(Image credits; Anthony Vazquez photography for the bride & Style Me Pretty)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Bridal Beauty
There has never been a time in my life where I craved perfect skin, white teeth, and shiny hair more than I did in the months before my wedding. I figured I'd be looking back at these pictures for many many years and my perfectionist ways would be pretty angry if there was a big red pimple in the middle of my face. I want to teach you a few things I learned,
1. Don't freak if you do have a pimple, makeup artists and photographers work wonders.
2. Don't go crazy (read below for the craziest thing I did while wedding planning)
3. Preparation is KEY!
Let's break down this preparation:
Skin, the answer to many of my problems was a visit to the dermatologist. I was one of those lucky teenagers that never really had a pimple. Unfortunately, my luck ran out I had lovely little spots on my face the second I turned 25. I visited the dermatologist about 8 months before my wedding.
I Retin-A prescription cleared everything up pretty nicely.
Craziest wedding related moment: A few months before my wedding my dermatologist recommended a strong chemical peel. I have to say this was the most insane thing I did before my wedding. It made a huge difference, but I looked scary for a week. I would sort of recommend this, but with a warning. Plan do NOTHING publicly for a week. While I did attend class and go out, I was a scary, scary sight. I would certainly only advise doing this months before your wedding.
Think this:
but I'd be lying if I didn't say my face looked worse
There are CERTAINLY other ways to get great skin results and I recommend a few products whole heartedly, but I've learned that everyones skin is different and what works for me may not work for you. I swear by an insane amount of water (probably my only really healthy addition) and good facials. I try to eat a decent amount for fruit and drink coupious amounts of green tea which I think helped. Some other products I loved (I am a product junkie, It's a real problem.)
Skinceuticals Clarifying Cleanser , Clarisonic Hydrating Cleanser, Clarisonic, Obaji Clenziderm Treatment (My dermatologist recommended this line, but I really only liked and used the number 2 bottle), Skinceuticals C+AHA treatment (this was expensive, but lasted me over a year since you use such a tiny amount), & Dr. Gross Skincare Alpha Peels
Hair, Regular cuts and color upkeep. I had a clear glaze right before my shower and the week of my wedding. I used whatever shampoo and conditioner was on sale and then used Phyto nourushing shampoo once a week.
Teeth, Obviously visit your dentist. I was lucky enough to get whitening trays and bleach for free before my wedding and I had really great results, but I've also used Crest Advanced Whitening Strips and had pretty similar results.
I've always been slightly obsessed with beauty products and what not, but the wedding plans only escalated my obsession. I can't say I regret a minute of it because I really felt great at my wedding. However, this obsession was not cheap and slightly crazy. Who said we were always sane?
Have a beauty question? Don't hesitate to ask
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