Making your conditioner work

Let me start off by saying that I am not a chemist. I don't know exactly which ingredients do what. I do know some are good and some are bad, but if you want me to break down the long list of unpronounceable names on the back of your shampoo/conditioner bottle.. well.. I'll probably be making 95% of it up. So on with the show.
How many of you shampoo your hair, then condition and rinse immediately out with warm water? Whose actually raising their hand? You know I can't see you right? But don't you worry.. I know your out there!
Did you know that you can get pretty decent results even from the cheapest conditioners? By results I don't mean hair repair results, I just me cosmetic results. The better the product the better the ingredients. Although keep in mind, sometimes you're just paying for a brand name. I am aware that not everyone has or wants a thermal heat cap. But if you are ready to invest a little bit on your hair, I would definitely recommend getting one. So for those of you without one here's what you can do.
First- Shampoo
Second- remove as much water from your hair as you can. Do NOT twist your hair or pull at it. You can squeeze up and down the hair shafts but be gentle. Your hair is very stretchy when wet and can break easily.
Third- Once hair is not longer super drippy with water apply your conditioner to the ends and try not to focus too much on the actual scalp. Especially if you have an oily scalp and/or fine limp hair.
Here's where you have several options. You can either wait 5-10 min with your hair up and off your shoulders while the conditioner "processes".
Or you can get a towel and wet it with super hot water (or microwave a wet towel but be careful not to burn yourself) and wrap it around your hair for 10 minutes. This is also the time you would apply your heated cap if you had one.
Now here comes the hard part. Rinse first with a little bit of warm water. Just a little.. Pretty much just re-wet your hair a little. Then turn on that cold water and rinse with as cold of water as you can stand. If you're doing this in the shower it helps to tip your head forward so the cold water isn't hitting you in your birthday suit. Assuming your not showering fully clothed. Okay this can get really creepy really fast. I'm going to move on now.
So really though- that's it. Rinsing your hair with cold water is the Big Secret! Whys that you ask? Well- when you wash your hair with warm water it opens up the hair shaft, and so when apply conditioner and rinse again with warm water, your washing the product right out. If you wash with warm, and then apply the conditioner and then rinse with cold water you're closing the product in with the shaft. So to speak.
Give it a try. I promise you'll notice a difference.

Vendor Shout Out!

I'm going to show some Vendor love every Friday on my blog. Being that I have a lot of vendors that I love.. today I'll be talking about Vista West Ranch. This place is heaven y'all. <--spoken like Paula Dean.

Not only is this place rustic chic, but the owners are great. I've been to many wedding locations and either A. Have never met the owners. B. Never even was able to contact someone to get directions to the brides whereabouts C. The owners were mean (Boo! They wont be featured on here!) or D. All of the above

I have never been to VWR without seeing Cindy or Brian helping set things up and helping out the bridal/wedding family. They recently got new tables and chairs and reupholstered the chairs to be all sorts of miss matched but in an awesome way. The actual establishment is made of aged wood, has a tin roof, and beautifuly stained concrete floors.

I believe their ever so adorable Honeymoon cottege should be opening up soon as well.

Embarrasingly enough- when everyone was talking about their beautiful new beirgarten I always thought they were saying Beer Garden. Like a little nook for people to go hang out and drink beer. I know. I have no excuse for my, whatever it is you want to call it.

VWR also has a great little bridal room with a claw foot tub *drool* and a wonderfully sized vanity area that is perfect for getting ready. I really do just love this place.

So anyway- Check them out. Its a gorgeous drive. And for anyone who books with them be sure to ask me how you can get a discount on my services!

The perfect Red!

I may have finally found THE perfect red lipstick! So far its, been pretty universal and I'm definitely in love!

I recently took a class at MAC and the instructor used this gorgeous red lipstick on one of the models and it was love at first sight. With the lipstick, not the model. I'm not attracted to people who are thinner and prettier than I am. ;) I realize now that, that statement alone could offend all of my friends. But dear friends, please know- I love you, but I'm not attracted to you in that way. Okay, I seriously digress.

So this lipstick (can you tell I'm stalling for dramatic purposes?) with any red lipstick needs a good liner prior to its application. Liner will help your lipstick stay on longer and not bleed. However, anyone who has tried the dramatic red lip look, knows that red lipstick bleeds! So a tip/trick is to use this eyebrow wax made by MAC under the lipstick and liner. I haven't been able to rock out my new love yet for an extended period of time yet because its like some sort of beacon for my son who stares at me entranced and then will reach out and smudge my lipstick. You also have to be ready to rock it out. You have own the red. So if your not feeling it, it wont feel you.

Red lipstick isn't fool proof. One shade off and it can age you, age your teeth, and make you look like a hussy. It also has to be applied flawlessly otherwise it will throw off your whole look and just make you look unkempt.

Another red lipstick tip (or for any dark lipstick) is to take a little liquid foundation or preferably concealor and a small concealor brush and line the outer rim of your lips after you've applied the lipstick. This will help mask any mistakes as well as highlight your lips and give a fuller appearance. And who doesn't want fuller lips? Just ask all the famous chicks who inject the life out of their lips!

Okay so the unveiling of the fantastic lipstick!.. Drum roll please...........Soooo, I don't have any mad blog skills and don't know how to insert a drum roll, or even if you can, so lets just use our imagination.

Back to the point.. Next time youre in a MAC store.. hit up the lovely "Russian Red" lipstick. It is a blueish red lipstick that really is just gorgeous! Their "Cherry Bomb" lip liner works fabulously with it as well!

Dana Day!

FUN.. is the best way to describe this bride and her wedding party. We had such a blast getting these girls ready. Everyone was hilarious and friendly and just great.
Dana (the bride) wanted her hair pulled up into a romantic flowy updo, and natural makeup as well. This girl is so pretty she really didn't need much!

Her bridesmaids also wanted makeup and didn't really have set ideas on what they wanted for hair, so I got to have fun with some updos.

Below are some pictures Dana was great enough to send me.

Her photographer was Anne Marie Photography who are the same folks who did my sisters wedding. (I promise to post pictures soon of that fiesta).

I LOVE their work.. so look below and enjoy.

Addressing some concerns.

I wanted to take a moment to address some questions and concerns that have come up.

First of all I want to thank everyone for their kind words and well wishes with our new little one! She is amazing and her big brother loves her to pieces. No really, he tries pulling her fingers and toes.. You know, average 2 1/2 year old stuff!

Anyway- While I am still on a light maternity leave, I am trying to find a balance of being able to work at home and still return y'alls phone calls and emails!

I apologize now if there has been or will be any confusion!

I do appreciate your understanding while I sort things out.

Now for the concerns.

I recently had someone ask me if their date was available, and I confirmed it was, and we proceeded to get the date securing ball rolling. I sent said client the contract and then did not hear back from her. This wouldn't be the first time this has happened so the date that had a tentitive hold on it was back up for grabs. Of course once I booked someone else for that day, the previous client contacted me and was upset when I told her the day was no longer available. I definitely understand why she was upset, but I get at least 5-10 emails a day asking about dates. If I held every one of them without the contract- I would be doing 5 weddings a year.

So please know, that I am not in any way trying to do any sort of pressure sale- I just cannot hold a day without some sort of security! I have a newborn to diaper after-all!

Concern #2:

The difference between airbrush makeup and standard makeup:

Now many of you who have done trials with me have heard me say this.. I am not a good sales person. I don't like to push things on people, and I don't like to make someone think I'm pushing one thing rather than the other because its more expensive. That being said. Here is my opinion on what the difference is between my airbrush foundation and standard foundation.

For the standard foundation I use MAC's Face and Body, which is a water-based water resistant foundation. So if you sweat or tear up a little bit, its not going to streak. But it can be wiped off, so you definitely want to blot not rub when/if you cry. This foundation has build-able coverage-so it can get heavy if you have a lot that needs to be covered.
You may also need concealor with this as well. This is great however, if you have pretty clear skin.
The Glamour airbrush foundation has light to full coverage without feeling heavy. Great for skin with a lot of blemishes or red marks. Tear and sweat proof as well as the standard foundation. Maybe a tad bit more so. Usually has longer wear as well.
The Camouflage foundation is the full coverage foundation that is great for covering any discoloration, or if you have oily skin. Also great for tattoo cover up. This makeup is contact proof so it wont smudge or rub off on people and has to be washed off. So crying and sweating is no problem. This foundation can feel heavy though if you have dryer skin. But specialized moisturizer can be added.

Shhhh.. Somebodies getting married!

Que suspenseful music.. dun dun duuuun. (Is that how you spell Que? Cue- Q, isn't that how you spell the Spanish word for "What"? Well you get the point. I hope. ) No make that- some sort of action movie music.. Okay, play whatever kind of music you want in your head. Whatever puts you in the mood for a secret elopement. I'm not sure how much I'm suppose to say, and not say- so I won't. I'll just talk about this gorgeous bride, and her hair and airbrush makeup.
I met Sarah when she came to my home for a trial. I t was a dark and stormy night, and she was dressed in dark shades, a trench coat and some sort of mafia, Frank Sinatra looking hat. Okay fine, so not really. I think she had some super cute knee high boots. I digress.
So we did her hair trial and all of a sudden she busts out this adorable bird cage veil she found for a steal at an antique store. Be still my heart. I lurve birdcage veils!
So on her actual wedding day, which was a gorgeous Monday morning- we did natural, beachy airbrush makeup and full sexy curls, with her bangs swept back and some to the side. It was an easy day. A. because she's gorgeous as it is, and B. Because she was just so nice. Loved her.
So Sarah, I wish you and Andrew the best!
Now some picture courtesy of the bride and Doberenz Photography.

Amy (May 2009)

Amy found me via my sister Wendee with Lucies Events. I had only talked with Amy via phone calls and emails and never actually did a trial with her. So on the day of, I was a wee bit nervous but this definitely wouldn't have been the first time I've done a trial-less wedding. Once entering her hotel room, I KNEW my job would be a piece of cake. The girl is gorgeous! I was certain I could throw a bow in Amy's hair and then blow some powder on her face and I'd be done! BUT, we decided to go the professional route.

I ended up doing Amy's moms hair that day as well. But for Amy we did loose curls with natural makeup and darker lips. The weather was rainy and VERY humid. Which is always a concern for girls with naturally straight hair. Luck was on our side and her hair held up rather well! Thanks for being so awesome Amy!

I snagged some photos from her photographers site. Thanks A Bryan Photo!