Monday, January 25, 2010

esty.com

Either because of the recession, or because they want to be unique, brides aren't buying the mass-produced tiara's anymore. There is something particularly exciting about wearing a sparkling crown on your wedding day, there are so few days in your life where it is perfectly acceptable to look like royalty! However, the tiara is definitely on the back burner of bridal trends and handcrafted, original accessories are becoming more and more popular.

When asked for suggestions or idea's to compliment a brides dress, I always send her to etsy.com. This beautiful, gem of a site is a gathering place of sorts for independent designers and artisans to showcase their spare-bedroom creations. Recently, I had a sophisticated bride shop their for a unique but understated compliment to her flowy and modern gown, and I was blown away with what she pulled out of a tissue box on her wedding day. A simple flower handcrafted from feathers with a center of sparkling rhinestones. The very same designer also created a similar and complimentary red version of her wedding day hair accessory to be worn the night before at the rehearsal dinner. It is safe to say that I've seen my share of wedding hair jewelry and this particular piece was most definitely nothing I had ever seen before. What's even more special about it is that there will never be another like it, and by purchasing directly from the designer my bride was able to support her local business and keep her expenditures within the US. It's a win-win all the way around.

If your a bride who's still struggling with the right hair piece for the big day, I definitely encourage you to check out etsy.com. It is absolutely worth your while and you will be amazed with what you find!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Primping in the Rain

The start of the year is bound to bring the cold and the wet, but just because I know it's coming doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. If I have to endure yet two or three more months of this, I might as well look good. When you wash your hands as many times a day as I do (gotta keep the money makers clean, who wants someone with dirty hands touching their face?) the cold weather just kills. KILLS, I tell you. I combat the urge to dunk my paws in a vat of extra virgin olive oil by slathering them when I can with hemp lavender lotion. The wet, on the other had, makes a joke out of my regular grooming routine. I, like most women, tend to heat, blow, and brush my hair into submission. Granted, I'm not trying to look like an Oscar winner every day, but I at least want to look like a hairdresser. If your a member of the frizz fighting force like I am then you know that the wet is just a big, fat, raspberry in our direction flat out disrespecting our hard-worked locks with it's humidity and ....wetness.

Count this as your get-out-of-jail-free card, today you get to be lazy! Since your not gonna win a bet against nature and the rain, join em. If your hair has absolutely any wave to it at all, you can use the raunchy weather as a curl amplifier. Towel dry that hair and work a curl amplifier into it, making sure you get from the ends to the roots. I really like ISO Bouncy Cream. No one wants hair that looks like uncooked Top Ramen, so ditch the crispy product. Bouncy Cream leaves the hair with all that awesome natural curl, but with that softness. If the stiffened ends of your hair could put an eye out, time to switch product. Those of you blessed with that perfectly straight hair, pull it back today. All us hairdressers got together and voted and looking like a wet seal is so not this seasons look. But you know your locks are lovely most other days, so this is your lazy day too. Put on a big soup pot and enjoy the rain!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

New Years Beauty Resolutions

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope the holidays were filled with all the things you love best, whatever they may be.

I love the holidays because I feel like right around the corner we can leave it all behind and start with a clean slate: New Years. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and I cannot think of anything more well-intentioned than the New Years Resolution. We all have them, regardless if we share them or not. And every year, it never fails, all those glossy magazines, billboards, and TV advertisements have a say in what your resolution is going to be.

This New Year, I challenge you to make a beauty resolution that will impact more than just your product collection. I challenge you to replace one current beauty fav with an eco friendly version. I'm not asking you to give up the only hairspray that will lift your limp locks into the heavens. But what about your daily body lotion? I've recently switched to Pangea Organics Hand and Body Lotions, and am obsessed! I love that the packaging comes with seeds embedded that when watered and buried, begin to sprout a basil plant! How awesome is that? You get your lotion and your spaghetti ingredients in one package! What about your lip balm? Body wash? Even tarte carries a great mascara called Tree Hugger (who's packaging is made from recycled aluminum)

Throwing out product is not the ultimate goal. Too much has been used on packaging, manufacturing, and shipping (not to mention your hard-earned dollars) on getting that product to you in the first place. I'm simply suggesting that next time you make a beauty run, you scope out your local green options. Because of the increased demand for environmentally friendly products, beauty companies are refining, expanding, and improving on their offerings which leaves the rest of us in a great position to take advantage of their green goodness! Consider this your formal invitation to get trendy and get green. And if you love your resolution, it's really not that hard to keep.