Hair Accessories to Accent Your Style

It is a never-ending search sometimes. The hair jewelry is the missing link between the earrings/necklace, the dress and the hairstyle. You want to make sure it complements everything, doesn't outshine anything and yet adds that extra "oomph" to give you the wow-factor you are looking for.

There are so many things to consider when choosing a headpiece. First of all, you want to decide if your hairstyle will determine the hair jewelry (and veil) you choose or vice versa. This is one of the most important and yet most forgotten/ignored criteria in choose a piece. Generally, the bride is at the bridal salon trying on dresses, she finds one she likes, the salesperson puts a veil on her head (and/or a jeweled comb/tiara) and the bride, overcome with the emotion of "I'm getting married! I am a bride!", says "yes" to everything--the dress, veil, and headpiece. Only later when she has her trial run through does she realize that the veil and/or hair jewelry may or may not go with the style she wants for her day.

There are headpieces (and veils) to complement every hairstyle--a low bun/chignon, a high mound of curls on top of your head, slicked back, loose, elegant and simple, romantic and artistic, half-up or all down, straight or curly, gold or silver--so don't be discouraged if the piece you chose isn't working with your hairstyle vision you had in mind. Be sure to check with the bridal salon (before removing the tags!) to see what their return policy is on headpieces and veils. You may be able to exchange or return it if you decide differently. Check out one of my favorites, Tigerlilly, for some great headpieces. And don't forget about the beauty and versatility of flowers (fresh or fake) in the hair!

The other important thing you want to decide is regarding your veil. Do you want to keep it in all night long or do you want to take it out? Do you want a blusher or no blusher? Do you want it above the style, below the style, on the top of your head or near the back/crown of your head? The reason you need to be aware of these things before choosing a veil is because veils are made differently and not every veil is able to be placed just anywhere.

For instance, if there are sequins, jewels, pearls, etc. on one side of the veil, that is the "up" or "out" side. Depending on how the veil is attached to the comb, this will determine whether the veil can be worn under the hairstyle with the "out" side facing out so you can see the embellishment.

The same goes for blushers. If you have a shorter blusher on your veil (note that blushers can be purchased separately from the longer veil if you so desire), wearing the veil under the hairstyle will cause the shorter blusher layer to be underneath the longer layer. You can still do it this way and wear the longer layer as your "blusher", however it will be a long blusher and may look awkward depending on where it ends on the front part of you and your dress.

Whatever you decide, try to do your best in restraining the giddy, emotional purchases before determining the return/exchange policy, your hairstyle and what components of your bridal accessories are important to you.

Photo credits: Jenn Barnett, Perspective Studio, Lina Jang, Jennifer Pottheiser, Life on Prints, Natural Expressions NY, Gene Higa, Solvara

The Dangers of Testing Makeup at Counters

Ok, I can only preach so much, but you don't have to take my word for it...it's all over Yahoo's Shine pages...read it for yourself...and be careful out there!

Yikes! Testing makeup at counters can give you herpes and pink eye

by Joanna Douglas, Shine Staff, on Tue Apr 20, 2010

You've read it and heard it a million times—do not share your makeup with a friend. But it's your best friend, and you can't go out without lipstick or mascara, so how bad can it be to give yourself one quick swipe? According to a new article in the LA Times, pretty darn bad. And you can just forget about testing makeup at a department store or your local Sephora. That's like sharing makeup with thousands of people you know nothing about.

"If a woman has a cut on her lip and borrows lipstick from someone who has a cold sore, she'll get a cold sore," Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi tells the LA Times. "You can pass herpes [the cold sore virus], conjunctivitis [pink eye] and all sorts of things through sharing makeup." The FDA stresses the importance of keeping makeup—particularly eye products—to yourself. They caution that, "the risk of contamination may be even greater with ‘testers' at retail stores, where a number of people are using the same sample product."

Whether you're tempted to get a mini makeover by one of the makeup counter cosmeticians, or dying to try a new shade of lip gloss or eyeshadow, you might want to think twice. While displays are set up for you to test products, the makeup items are loaded with bacteria and germs. Dr. Elizabeth Brooks, a biological sciences professor at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, conducted a two-year study on the makeup testers and applicators in department stores, drugstores and specialty shops in New Jersey five years ago and discovered some disappointing and scary results. Staph, strep, and E. coli bacteria were all present. "Wherever you see E. coli, you should just think 'E. coli equals feces,'" said Brooks. "That means someone went to the bathroom, didn't wash their hands and then stuck their fingers in that moisturizer." Grossed out yet? According to Brooks, when they tested products on Saturdays—the busiest day at makeup counters—100 percent of the makeup was contaminated.

If you're looking for a safe way to try products, some methods are safer than others. Ask the salesperson for a clean tester, or single-use sample—many stores keep these stocked behind the counter. Wiping off a lipstick, or even disinfecting it in alcohol is not enough to definitely kill all viruses (herpes, for one), so disposable applicators are a must. If you don't see them on display, just ask, because the wand that comes with a mascara or gloss is a breeding ground for ickiness. Lotions that you can squeeze out, as opposed to sticking your fingers in, are tougher to be contaminated.

Brooks says although this information is scary, you shouldn't be discouraged to try items as long as you're smart about it. "Even doing all of this research, I'm not afraid or afraid to send my daughters to the mall," she said. "I just tell them not to put anything near their eyes, nose or mouth and you'll be OK. I want women to be happy that they're women and enjoy makeup, but just be careful." Consider yourselves warned.

Happy Belated Earth Day

Ok, so I know I am late, but in honor of Earth Day, I cannot go without posting my LOVE-LOVE-LOVE-LOVE of Tarte's lipgloss...it's natural, it's shiny, it's sticky-but-not-too-sticky, it's sheer (certain colors), it's opaque (other colors), and it's green. Tarte is such a great company outside of being green, the fact that they are green just makes them that much more cool.

AND -- did we mention that because we love Tarte and Tarte loves brides, upon checkout, all you have to enter is "BRIDE" in the promo code to get 20% off your purchase.

But through Sunday, April 25th, you get 30% off in honor of Earth Day--so stock up at Tarte!  Lipgloss, cheekstain, lipgloss, eyeshadow palettes, lipgloss...uh, did we mention lipgloss?


Here's a post from our sister company's blog about Tarte and how much we love them:

Don't Underestimate the Power of Natural Makeup

Now, I am going to be honest...I love the idea and concept of natural makeup--especially for women who are not able to wear most makeup due to chemical sensitivities, allergies, etc. However, that said, I am one to still love my tried and true chemical makeup products that do the job. My skin is pretty tough--both in terms of being able to handle chemicals as well as tough to find things that work on it the way they're suppose to work. And I have tried some natural/mineral makeup products in the past that were an absolute waste of time/money, so before trying these, I was a little skeptical...although these were from Tarte, which I loved before I knew it was natural makeup.

So I first lined my eyes upper and lower inner rims with the emphasEYES liner in plum. I loved the very thin, no-need-to-sharpen tip that glided on the skin without a tug. It was fairly light on the first application, so I added a couple more layers which intensified the look. This seems like it would be a great choice for those who are afraid of eyeliners, can't draw a straight line, don't like the harsh look of a liner, and those who hate sharpening their eyeliner. I really loved that it went on so nicely without the thick line.


I also used Tarte's Lights, Camera, Splashes 4-in-1 Natural Waterproof Mascara. Ok, this is seriously one cool mascara. Not only is it waterproof and give you added volume and length, it has beeswax and carnauba wax (from a plant) and the packaging is biodegradable and recyclable. And did it mention the super cute anchor/marina theme?



And then around my midday shine, I used their T-Zone Travel Natural Shine Control To-Go Kit. I first used the blotting papers (yes, I did have to use multiple sheets being that my face contains more oil than the Middle East), and then I used the super cute brush to dust my face with the shine control powder. I was seriously impressed that the powder did not make me look like I had flour on my face and it kept my natural glow (a.k.a. didn't interfere with my bronzer too much). I will definitely be using this on a regular basis--not to mention, again--how gorgeous is the packaging? I feel like I want to take this and the mascara out to use in public just so I can show off how cute the packaging is. And did I mention that the powder has a ton of good-for-you natural extracts in it? No wonder Kristen Bell and Rachel Bilson love this so much!

The Knot Live (Season 2, Episode 10)

The Knot Live (Season 2, Episode 10)

See our sister company, MG Hair and Makeup, on the "Sprays for your Day" segment where I talk about the best hairsprays and methods to use them.

To read more about the segment, visit the page featuring the details:

http://wedding.theknot.com/special-wedding-features/the-knot-live/articles/the-knot-live-season-2-episode-10.aspx?MsdVisit=1

Tools of the Trade

The Twissor...is it a scissors? Or a tweezers? Or some type of hybrid? Whatever it is, it one of the best tools ever.

Not only does it get right next to the skin, but it also helps with trimming eyebrow hairs to an exact length without having to balance your entire hand in mid-air. The angle allows you to rest it on the skin right next to the hair(s) you want to cut. Ingenious! Thank you, Alcone!

Unveiled Wedding Event in Dallas

We are very excited to be providing the hair and makeup for the models on the runways of the national tour of the Unveiled Wedding Event at the Dallas Convention Center on March 6th 2010 from 11AM -5PM!

This will be a great event because unveiled is the definitive source for all things weddings! Designed and produced by The Wedding Guys®, Unveiled is a personalized bridal experience unlike any other with a philosophy, to make magic for attending brides, grooms and guests. It's the ultimate wedding trunk show. Unveiled offers you an unprecedented resource, placing you in direct contact with wedding specialists who are professional, talented and creative, showcasing the latest trends in all things weddings!

You can still buy tickets at http://unveiledweddingevent.com/#content=shows.html or you can get them at the door. This is one wedding event you don't want to miss! See you there!

Top 10 Beauty Mistakes to Avoid Surrounding Your Wedding Day

We are excited to announce that we were interviewed for The Knot's Beauty Week coming up February 15th - 21st!  They asked for our Top 10 Beauty Mistakes to Avoid Surrounding Your Wedding Day.

As a special preview, we thought we would share our Top 10 with you:

1. Make sure that you schedule your trial run through at the right time for you.  There is no right or wrong time to schedule a trial run.  If you are incorporating your mother's veil or a specific headpiece into your hairstyle, make sure you have it for your trial run through as the hairstyle needs to be worked around it.  If you are growing your hair out, make sure you wait until it is long enough or else the trial will be a waste of time and money.  But make sure that you schedule your trial run through well in advance so you can schedule out haircuts, color/highlights, etc. up to your wedding day.  This way there's no last-minute panic that your stylist is on vacation so you have to get in with someone else resulting in your hair being cut too short for your style, with too many layers, and the wrong color.

2. Don't be afraid to speak up.  Your trial run through is not the time to pull the "Yes, it's fine" card that we've all pulled at a salon or makeup counter, got up and left, and then drove home in tears.  If you don't like it, tell the artist/stylist what you do like about it (if anything), and what you want to change.  It's okay if you change your mind about liking the style/look once you see it on you versus when you saw it in the picture.  Just make sure you have some ideas of other things you want to try or suggestions/pictures of other types of styles you like.  This will give your artist/stylist something to start with.

3. Don't become frustrated or overwhelmed with the multitude of choices for your makeup.  Contact your wedding planner, venue, friends/family or bridal associations in your area to get referrals for professional makeup artists with a good reputation.  Having someone else to take care of doing your makeup (and not having to purchase it all yourself) will often times lighten your to-do list before and on your wedding day.  Remember that though they may be the professional, this is your wedding—not theirs.  And if the artist doesn't listen or try what you would like, look for another artist—there are wonderful makeup artists out there who can make you feel and look your best.

4. If you are going to do your own makeup, make sure you choose your type of foundation based on the type of coverage you want.  If you have troubled skin, a lot of discoloration or acne, you may want to choose a full coverage foundation.  Many full coverage foundations now come more in lightweight formulas than in the past so the makeup won't feel as heavy on the skin. Always make sure you try out the foundation first and wear it throughout the day before purchasing it so you can experience the wear of the foundation on your skin and the color in different types of light (outdoor/natural light, florescent, dim/candlelight, etc.).  If you feel like it is too heavy feeling on your skin though, try a different lighter coverage foundation.  There is bound to be one that is just right for you.

5. Don't wear a skin luminizer or shimmer all over your face as it will reflect the light of the flash and make your skin look a lot lighter than the rest of your body.  If you want to wear some shimmer on the brow bone or a little on the cheekbone to highlight, go ahead and do so as it generally gives a bit of glow to the skin.

6. Be aware if your foundation or moisturizer has SPF in it as it can reflect the light from a flash and make your face look like it doesn't match the rest of your body.  Also be aware of your face powder if talc is a main ingredient as it will also make your face look mask-like in photos.  Yellow-based powders are usually best as they tone down redness and also look natural in pictures.

7. Try to get enough rest the night before your wedding as well as the week of your wedding if possible.  You will most likely have a lot of other last-minute details to finish, however the more rest you get, the less stressed you will be, which will in turn reduce the chance of stress-related breakouts on your wedding day and also hopefully help you deal with family and friend personalities with greater ease.  Emotions run high surrounding a wedding and you don't want to be upset and crying as the artist is trying to apply your makeup because everyone has you on your last nerve.

8. Exercise and healthy eating go hand-in-hand with your wedding day beauty routine.  Remember that your skin is an organ and shows signs of stress.  Exercise will also help with your stress reduction, make you feel better overall and even look better in your dress.  Reducing or eliminating smoking, alcohol, and foods with high sugar and fat contents will change the luminosity of your skin.  Remember that makeup can only do so much and that it does sit on top of your skin—it is not a real mask.

9. If you are on the fence about what style or look to choose, take pictures.  If possible, try to take them in natural light versus inside with a flash as it will make the picture look differently than how you look in real life.  Take pictures from the front, sides, and back and then write down on a piece of paper what you think about it when you look in the mirror.  Then go on to style #2 and do the same thing.  Your artist/stylist shouldn't make you decide on the spot what style you want for your wedding day hairstyle or makeup look (unless it is your wedding day that day).  Let the decision marinate a bit, look back at the pictures and at your notes.  If there is someone who helps you make good decisions, make sure they are there at your trial run through to give you honest feedback.  Pictures are great but there is nothing like seeing it in person.

10. Don't leave booking your artist/stylist until the last-minute.  Finding out that you've waited too long to book the artist/stylist you wanted for your wedding day can leave you in a panic.  Generally you want to book between 1 year to 6 months in advance to make sure that you not only have someone for your wedding day but also so that if you have your trial run through and decide that artist/stylist is not for you, then you have enough time to search for another one.  Regardless of when you book your artist/stylist, you want to get a contract—your vendor for hair and makeup should be no different than your vendor for your flowers, caterer, venue, etc.