Pin-Up Shoot

**OK, I ADMIT, I'm back-peddaling here. I started this post and for whatever reason, forgot I had to upload more photo's. So here I am, finally, getting to it! This was in Spring! But, still saucy just the same**

Where do you go when you want to take the best pin-up photo's ever?

The middle of nowehere. Of course.

This is the plan that Sue and I hatched after deciding... what exactly we decided was I'm still not sure, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. And, unlike most idea's that "seem like a good idea at the time", this one actually was. Which is exactly how we found ourselves driving to a ghost town about 45 minutes outside of Las Vegas on a hot and dusty Sunday afternoon.

We started at the studio, because being the spoiled makeup artist that I am, I was gonna do most of the work in a well-lit space with running water. Here's pin-up model Tiffany Rose Thomas pre- and post- transformation.



This is Angela, our wonderful, pretty friend who offered her services for our project!


And of course, here are the spoils of our labor! Between posing and changing we had to watch for rattlesnakes, scorpions, and "jumping cactus", but as you can see, it was more than worth it!

Easy on the Eyes

As of this blog, I am a mere 26 years old. I say mere not to indicate that I think I'm younger than I really am, even though I try not to think about 30 being within arms reach. I say mere because most girls my age aren't even thinking about fine lines at this point, but I've been putting on eye cream religiously for several months now. It's almost like being a grown up.

We don't usually take care of things until they've gotten to a point where they need to be cared for. Sunburns are a great example... everythings fabulous on the beach until someone needs the aloe. Then of course it's all "hind sight's 20/20".

Living in Vegas means lots of dry weather. Combined with the Accutane (a medication I'm currently on that dries me out) my skin feels like a cross between plaster dust and sand paper. I suppose it's a blessing in disguise, because I'm frequently aware of the dryness around my eyes and am using copious amounts of Active Triple Treatment Eye Cream by Bare Escentuals. I'm almost out and I'm looking into getting a cream from Suki... they are known for their eco-freindly practices. I'm topping off my eye cream with the usual slather of SPF 50. Were all so damn worried about looking greasy or shiney that we forget the other option is dry and crinkly. Well, I'm here to tell you that oil is what keeps your sking healthy and smooth, so get over it and start properly moisturizing.

What are you doing to protect your eyes? You 20-something girls, listen to me. Now is the time to be taking great care of the tender skin around our eyes. One of the number one complaints women have is the fine lines around their peepers. It cannot be prevented, but it can be delayed. And if you've already got some, you can at least halt the progress. Sun damage and dehydration are going to ruin your lovely peepers.

"I want my eyes to pop/stand out." I hear it almost as soon as her tush hits my makeup chair. We all love our eyes, and most of us thinks it's our best feature. Show them some love by wearing that sunscreen, applying that eye cream, and trying not to tug, rub, or pull. You'll never know if it worked or not because you'll never know what "would have been" if you had kept your wicked ways, but trust me, it's worth it.

The Extension Question

About a quarter of my clients either have extensions or want extensions. If your considering getting them, know that there are several options available to you. Most women fantasize about long, thick, flowing hair and why shouldn't they? Here's the low-down on the locks you crave.

To understand the different methods of applying the hair, we first need to know what kind of hair can be put in. In general, there's two different kinds of hair used: Weft and Individual.

A weft (or track) is a sheet of hair all bonded together at the top. It's can be used in sewing, beaded, clip-in, or glued methods.


Individual hair is hair bundles that have been gathered in individual strands and bonded together into an I shape at the top. This is used for beaded or fusion methods.


You typically will only see the weft hair being used, because the time and cost involved with individuals is somethings most women don't want to commit to. So, for all intents and purposes, we are going to talk about the weft.

Clip In Extensions:


These are the best idea if you only want them for one day but think you could use them again in the future. Easy in, easy out, add fullness, and not to hard on the wallet. You can find these just about anywhere, but make sure you get real hair! If it's synthetic, you can kiss curling it good-bye.

Beaded on Weft:
Not really a technical term, it's just the method.


These are a personal favorite. They take about an hour to put in, blend well, and are easy on the hair. A weft of hair is clipped to the roots, then individual beads are threaded onto both the weft hair and the clients hair, then the metal bead is clamped down to secure the two together. They last about two weeks before a touch up is needed, and can last more than a month if they are maintained properly.

Sewn in Weft:

Hair is braided in horizontal rows, then a needle and thread is used to sew the weft onto the braid. The original and still most common use of weft hair.

Bonded/Glued Weft:


The hair is sectioned off and the weft is glued in panels. A quick way to get extensions in, but not the most popular. Very temporary, but not as temporary as clip-ins.

So, what extensions are right for you? Depends on what kind of investment you want to make. I find that clip in's are usually the best choice, but I also have worn other methods. Day to day you'll want something more permanent, that's for sure. There's a ton of other hair pieces on the market, too. Bands with tufts of hair, hair on these weird wire comb thingy's... most of it's synthetic. That's cool if you don't need to change the texture of the hair, just make sure you that you are happy with it exactly as it is before you buy it. As for the real hair extensions, those can be colored, curled, flattened, just like your own. Hope I answered your extensions questions!!