Weddings are definitely not all just glitz and glamour. Behind every gorgeous wedding hair and every flawlessly executed bridal makeup, with every beautiful bride is a great deal of preparation. From the bride herself to her wedding hair stylist and her bridal makeup artists’ team. It requires thorough and careful planning.

If you are a bride-to-be, you are going to need all the help you can get from your bridal hair stylist and your wedding makeup artist to achieve the bridal look you’ve always dreamed of. Make sure you are well-informed not just on the beauty side of it but, in every aspect of your wedding day. To avoid any type of headache on your wedding day make sure all the financial, scheduling and advance organization are clear and in place.

Here are twelve questions that you should ask your bridal hair and makeup team before your wedding day.
Take this advice from an expert!

1. Will you provide the hair and/or makeup schedule for my wedding day?
It is definitely a must for you to know the availability and schedule of your hair and makeup team on the day of your wedding. A well-elaborated hair and makeup schedule will give you the peace of mind that everyone will be ready on time. Avoid the stress and make sure everything is right on schedule.

2. I do have allergies to some cosmetics, how are you going to work with that?
This is one of the reasons why having a bridal hair and makeup trial is a must. Your hair and makeup artist must do allergy tests during your hair and makeup trial. Such tests must be done before any complete makeup application to avoid any catastrophic consequences on your wedding day.

3. Can you provide service to my getting ready-location?
It is important for you to ask this question since some hair stylists who work in hair salons may not be able to their working place especially in weekends when they are busier with more clients.

4. Would you charge extra for driving to location?
Some locations could be far away from your stylist. An extra fee may be charged due to long driving distance and more time spent for time. Be sure to ask this so you can manage your finances or budget better.

5. If I want to shorten the “getting ready time”, could you bring extra stylists/artists? Is there going to be an extra charge? How much would that be?
One makeup artist/hair stylist no matter how good he or she is cannot handle a big number of parties. You don’t want people to feel uncomfortable and inconvenient for having to wait long for hair and makeup getting ready sessions. Ask for a specific price and try to check for packages so you can save some money. The usual getting ready time would be 2.5 to 5 hours, with anything longer than that you should consider asking your stylist to bring extra help.

6. Do you offer written contracts?
Why should you ask for a written contract? It is extremely important to do so since written agreements of charges and services that will be provided will make sure you won’t get last minute surprises. It well set things clear in writing and will guarantee expectations will be met.

7. Do you have bridal work portfolio?
It is important to ask for the makeup artist/stylist portfolio for you to see samples of their work. This will also give you an idea of their style and quality of work.

8. Would you provide touch up kit on my wedding day?
You will definitely need to have some touch ups before and after pictures during the ceremony and up to the reception. This will make sure you still look fresh and shine free all throughout the event. Touch ups also make your hair and makeup stay longer. Better be sure to ask your bridal hair and makeup artist if this will be provided.

9. I will need you to stay longer for hair and makeup changes and touch ups, would there be an extra charge?
You may want the artist to stay for hair and makeup retouches or make changes for photos, ceremony and reception. Make sure to know how much it will cost for these extra services.

10. Do you have cancellation fees?
If for any undesirable reason you need to cancel, you will want to know in advance the financial cost this may represent.

11. I have very specific likes and dislikes, how can we make sure I’m happy with the end results?
It is important for you to have confidence right from the beginning that you will have the look you always dreamed of on the most important day of your life – your wedding day. Your makeup artist must be able to communicate to you how s/he can make that happen.

12. Are there going to be any extra charges that I should know about?
Make sure to know what other extra charges are there for there can be many such as driving to location, vehicle parking, assistants, air-brush makeup, false lashes, hair extensions, tattoo coverings and hourly rate for waiting time.

Being well-informed is an advantage!

Aside from saving you from any unnecessary stress and unexpected surprises and charges, it also guarantees getting the perfect bridal hair and wedding makeup look on your big and beautiful day. So feel free to ask your preferred expert/artist/stylist on wedding hair and makeup in Washington, DC. Baltimore, MD and Northern Virginia area.

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Yes we love makeup, and there are always different makeup trends to follow but who doesn’t love a pair of beautiful smoky eyes?

We love having them with metallic hues and sometimes we love to experiment different makeup tricks and colors for our smoky eyes. But having smoky eyes for daytime makeup and wear can be tricky unless done the right way. While it is often tempting to reach out for the black eyeliner and silver eye shadow, there are always better and highly recommended eye makeup options.

Here’s an easy approach to get that daytime appropriate sultry smoky eye makeup.

1. Groom your brows to frame your face before applying eye makeup. This is important to make your eyes standout and your eye makeup looks beautifully finished.

2. With makeup, always start with light tone eye shadows, continue with medium and leave darker shades at the end.

3. Apply a slightly velvety texture eye shadow, light taupe color using a large brush into the center of the lid. Soften the shadow at the crease by flipping the brush. Press the color into the lower lash line.

4. Apply a darker brown shadow using a blending brush in small circular motions into the outer corner. Blend it up into the crease to create an illusion of depth. Always follow your natural eye shape. Tip: Begin with less eye shadow and build up as necessary.

Some of my favorite eye shadows are from NARS, I highly recommend them.

5.  For smoky eyes, one thing to remember is that the liner is meant to define the eyes but is not meant to be seen. Apply the liner starting at the outer corner using short strokes at the base of the lash line. Using a flat brush to smudge the liner in. You have the option to define both lash lines or just choose to define the upper or lower lash lines. Tip: Skip the waterline to make it appropriate for day wear.

Extra tip: If you feel it’s too dark or too much eye makeup, the solution is to blend or use medium eye shadow tones instead of dark. Doing so will create a soft and hazy finish which is perfect for daytime smoky eye look. That is exactly why we call it “Smokey”, because it is not defined nor with sharp definitions.

Do not ever forget!!!

If you don’t want to look like a “Panda Bear” or the tragic “Raccoon Eye” look, never use black and white eye shadows by itself. You will always need to use a hint or accent color.

Follow these steps and tips to get that smoky eye look with just the right amount of sexiness for daytime makeup wear. This beautiful eye makeup look is perfect for all four seasons.

Have fun and practice!

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For the last 14 years I had the pleasure of being a part of the Nordstrom Fashion Creative Team.

From our Opening Galas to the Designer’s Fashion Previews and well renowned Designer’s Trunk Shows to our wonderful Nordstrom Beauty Trend Shows, it is always my pleasure to work and being a part of such an amazing fashion leading firm.

All these events have been the perfect platform to showcase some of my Fashion Hair work, and for this fall/winter 2014/2015 season we have some wonderful hair trend styles!

In these Nordstrom Beauty Trend Shows, leading cosmetic lines showcase the latest makeup, cosmetics and beauty trends for the Fall/Winter 2014/2015 season.

We get the pleasure to showcase some of our Fashion Runway Hair Work for these wonderful beauty events.

Modern Braided Hair is a very elegant trend for this 2014/2015 fall/winter season. The best thing about this look is that you can wear it perfectly well with a jean jacket or with a evening gown!

Not much product needed, just light hairspray, small hair rubber bands, bobby pins and finishing shine. Symmetry and texture are the key ingredients for these fantastic hair looks. To achieve beautiful texture on braids make sure you lightly (widen) pull apart your braids, this will hence the look! Nothing to polished or symmetric, just a naturally organic elegant look.

Great to dress up or down. Fantastic for brides to be in any indoors or outdoors wedding and any bridal or special events.

Need help looking your best in any bridal, wedding, gala or special event?

Contact me, it would be my pleasure to work with you!

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Time to say goodbye to the hottest season of the year, for this crisp and cool autumn season we warmly welcome the hottest hairstyles for weddings straight from the runway. Who wouldn’t fall in love with these simple yet stunning fall hair styles?

Get inspired with a variety of ballerina buns to different ways to twist and braid your hair. Here are my favorite runway hairstyles that would definitely make a gorgeous bridal hairstyles for weddings in Washington, DC.

Braids and Twists.

Braids in a Bun by Dolce & Gabbana

For romantic and dramatic dos, get inspirations from the catwalk of fall 2014. Braids and twists are making a wave this autumn 2014. There are varieties to choose from. For a less formal do, you can go half-up and half-down. For a formal and sophisticated bridal do, go for tucked and twisted pieces up do to create fabulous layered effect on your wedding day.

Sleek Ballerina Bun from Prada – Off Duty Ballerina Bun

Ballerina buns also referred to as top knots are gracing the catwalk this fall. This hair trend definitely works as a trendy and chic up do for brides who want a classic yet stylish bridal hairstyles for weddings look . It is a perfect option for brides who want to keep their hair off their neck and shoulders to accentuate their beautiful faces or to highlight the back detailing of their wedding dress. Ballerina buns come in different shapes and sizes. Here are our top picks from the runway:

This clean and sleek ballerina bun at the nape of the neck spells elegance – perfect for sophisticated classic-themed weddings.

Unkempt High Top Knot Off-Duty Ballerina Bun by Diane Von Furstenberg and Back Braided Bridal Chignon from Roberto Cavalli. 

Do not feel like wearing a conventional ballerina bun on your big day? This effortlessly sexy undone ballerina bun/top knot is ideal for brides who want to have a rustic-themed wedding.

Add more drama to your bridal hairstyles for weddings by adding braids to an ordinary bun. Wisps of hair and slightly undone look give more texture to your hairstyles for weddings. This up do looks great with a veil.

Loose Braids by Emilio Pucci

For a rustic-themed wedding and carefree bridal do, recreate this look on your wedding day. It’s sexy and laidback at the same time.

Something very edgy but super elegant and sexy at the same time is this intricate braided hair style by Nicole Miller. As well as this “High Top Chignon: by Carolina Herrera in the Fall of 2014.

Now, if what you look for is something very modern, simple and elegant?

Sophisticated carefree waves are a simple and elegant way to go. Amazing hairstyles for weddings look for a Fall wedding in 2014.

We saw this wonderful look in Rochas Fall 2014.

To make sure you get the best hairstyles for weddings in Washington, DC, contact yours truly. It’s always a pleasure to hear a word from bride-to-be’s. Having a perfect bridal hair is not just recreating a runway look but it also takes the skillful hands of a professional hair stylist. It would be my pleasure and honor to be a part of your wedding day!

All Images credited to, Harpers Bazaar.

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Hello Everyone!

As the law of the land finally begins to acknowledge the love of everyone in the land, I am absolutely elated to work with Same Sex Couples on their wedding day.

What a joyous occasion weddings are, and it is certainly everyone’s right to experience the enchantment of a wedding day and the joyous of celebration of love.

 
Photos by, Ethan Yang Photography!
My personal experience of serving as a professional hair stylist and makeup artist on many Same Sex Weddings has been a privilege and honor.

I wanted to share some wisdom with potential hair and makeup artists and anyone else who is curious about the specific needs of Same Sex Couples on their wedding day.

The following advice is some basic expectations couples have of their bridal/wedding hair and makeup artists.

1. No Judgment

Personally, I believe a weddings and bridal events should be a unique and extremely amazing opportunity to celebrate Love and everything that this may represent. Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same way. Like most people, Same Sex Couples want to be treated like everyone else who will be celebrating their love in nuptials in this very special day. For a hair stylist and makeup artist, this will mean to provide the absolute best of services. Working for wedding clients is indeed one of the most gratifying jobs to have. Because yes, it will require that the hair and makeup artist will deliver excellent quality service on someone’s most important day of their life. But the opportunity of making these brides look and feel like the most beautiful women in the world will be treasured and gratifying experiences in your career!

2. Understanding

Unfortunately, like in any other weddings. Same Sex Weddings could have uniquely sensitive issues that can put a little bit of damper on the day. Specifically sometimes family members will not show or not be happy to be there, but like I mentioned before, this can happen in any other wedding. Knowing to perhaps expect some familial tension will help you know how to handle any situations that may pop up. As a hair and makeup artist it is not your job to fix these issues, but it is important to be understanding, supportive and sensitive.

3. Expertise in the Area

Most of the Same Sex Couples prefer artists with experience in these types of Same Sex Weddings events. It is just comforting to know someone has specific experience and understanding. Obviously, if you are just starting to serve Same Sex Couples (or even weddings in general) you are not quite the expert yet. What you can do is offer to assist experienced artist on Same Sex Weddings to gain invaluable experience in the area. There is no better teacher than experience, so jump on any chance you get to help out as a hair and makeup artist’s assistant at a Same Sex Weddings .You may also want to consider Hair and Makeup Training to learn about these and other types of events and services.

4. Individuality

This should be essential skills for you to have as someone who is or who wants to be in the professional beauty field, but let’s take this opportunity to just get it out in the open:

Every single bride wants to look their best on their wedding day! And every single bride has their own unique styles. The brides are going to want a look specifically tailored to their own personality, wants and needs. It would be catastrophic to have two brides to look the same and not like themselves. Make sure you have a clear communication and openness with the brides to be, and design a very personal bridal look that will be suited to each of their needs, likes and personalities.

5. Bridal Trials / Groom Trials

Often brides- and sometimes even grooms will want to do their bridal trial at the same time, but of course they will not want to know how each other are going to look on their wedding day. As a hair and makeup artist, it will be your job to accommodate this desire to help save them time and money. It would be recommended to schedule their bridal hair and makeup trial on the same day of a Pre-Bridal photo shoot session. This will diminish the issue of knowing how each other are going to look on their wedding day.

P.S. It is wonderful to do these types of trials, so you get to see the excitement of each individual!

6. To Feel Like They’re in Good Hands

For any bride, picking out a hair stylist and makeup artist for their wedding is often a nerve wracking experience. Just like in any wedding, it will not only be your job to deliver your services above expectations, but also do a little reassuring along the way to let the couple they are indeed in good hands. It will be a big plus for you and for the brides to be, if you make your Same Sex Couples know and feel they are in the best hands, and that you are indeed happy, grateful and honored to be a part of their Amazing Wedding Day!

Conclusion

Just like any wedding, it is our job as a bridal hair and makeup artists to make the client feel beautiful, confident and happy! Working in weddings is not something that every Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist in DC or any other state of our nation is cut out for, and that is why it is a difficult field to succeed in. In my advanced beauty training courses, bridal beauty and Same Sex Weddings is something we go into depth in, so if you think you are interested in going into this field read more about my advanced training classes here.

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Many brides are scared away from summertime weddings due to the hot and humid weather. As a professional wedding hair and makeup artists, I’m here to tell you that we don’t need to fear the elements when it comes to bridal beauty. While we cannot make the heat and humidity go away, we can use it to our advantage when it comes to a perfect bridal look.

The following tips will help you brainstorm exactly what wedding hair and makeup styles you may want for a summertime wedding. Whether you are having a destination wedding or a summer wedding at home, these tips will help control the quality of your wedding hair and makeup during the long, hot summer days.

1. Embrace the Frizzy Style

I know with this one you may think I’m going crazy, but just give me a second to explain. No one likes overly frizzy hairstyles, but there is a way to control frizziness. First off, you need to choose a wedding hairstyle that looks good with a little bit of frizz. Anything too formal will not look good with a little frizz, but looser bridal hairstyles look great with frizz. Some bridal hairstyles I would even argue look better with frizz. By working with a bridal hairstylist like myself, you can figure out exactly what hairstyle will work with your taste and the heat and humidity!

Photo by, tulleandchantilly.com

 2. Keep Your Hair Off the Face and Skin

When the weather is hot and humid, the last thing you want is a bunch of hair on your face and skin. Not only is this uncomfortable, but the sweat off your skin can cause your hair to get wet. Wet, sweaty hair is something we want to avoid in our wedding day if at all possible. Also, when you try to brush your hair away from your face, you can smear and smudge your bridal makeup if you are not careful. For these reasons I highly recommend selecting an bridal up-do or a braid, so that your hair is out the way.

3. Light Makeup

Face powders, dark makeup and caked-on makeup are just not going to work in the hot and humid weather. That is good, because heavy bridal makeup isn’t what you want for an ideal wedding look anyways. What you do want is a more natural, cream-colored makeup. Lighter colors and cream will be your best friend for a summertime ceremony, because it won’t get all icky, runny or melty in the heat. This more natural bridal look will allow your natural beauty to shine through by highlighting your unique, gorgeous face.

4. Waterproof Makeup

The other aspect of makeup to really take advantage of is waterproof makeup. I really recommend the cosmetic line “AQUA” from Makeup For Ever. It is with out a doubt my first pick for waterproof makeup. The great thing about this cosmetic line is it guarantees that water, tears or sweat will not cause the makeup to smudge! Even on the hottest days of summer, you will still have an all natural look sans smudges, smears or any other unsightly marks.

5. Flower Braids

A really hot trend right now in summertime wedding hair is flowery braids. These loose and care-free braids offer a natural look with a fun twist. There are lots of different ways to configure a braid that will look formal enough for a wedding, but whimsical enough to withstand the heat and humidity. Hopefully, some of the sample pictures in my blog will give you an idea of some of the options available for this bridal hairstyle.

Photo by, tulleandchantilly.com 

Photo by, tulleandchantilly.com                                                      Photo by, fashionfemale.net

6. Overall Care-Free Natural Look

Generally, the best bet for summertime weddings is to keep things simple, fun and natural to ensure that humidity, tears and the heat don’t mess up the style of the bride or anyone else in attendance of the wedding. The great thing about care-free looks is that even if it gets a bit messy, it will look like you paid a stylist to cause any frizziness, loose strands, etc. Also, when you have a care-free look you can worry less about what you look like and just let things naturally happen with out falling appart. This will give you the ability to spend more time enjoying your very special wedding day!

Don’t Forget is all About the Summertime Love!

Ultimately, beauty is only on the surface, and yes everyone looks at that. But part of really enjoying a bridal look is feeling really happy and confident about the wedding day. On the day of a wedding there are so many things to be happy about that in the end it won’t matter what season it was! What really will matter are the memories you make and the love you share for the rest of your life. Let me do your hair and makeup for weddings in DC, so that I can join in on the fun!

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I am so excited for the beginning of spring! One of my favorite parts about spring is all the cherry blossom themed weddings, and I’m so lucky that I get to do the Cherry Blossom themed hair and makeup for weddings in D.C.!!!
 
To get the best looks for your cherry blossom makeup, especially if you are a bride, I recommend consulting with yours truly. But if for any reason this is not an option, here are some tips and inspirations for a perfect cherry blossom bride look. These tips also work if you are just a guest at the cherry blossom wedding too! Check out the following hair and makeup tips to create the perfect cherry blossom look for weddings or any other springtime occasion.

Hair Tip #1, Use the Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms are only around for a short time, so we should take advantage of their presence in every aspect of the wedding- including your hair. Cherry blossom embellishments add a delicate touch of beauty to any bridal hair style. If you are worried about cherry blossoms wilting or a petal falling off during the ceremony, you could always get fake cherry blossoms to decorate your hair. Michael’s Crafts Stores have some amazing realistic stuff! I personally think there is nothing like the real thing though!

Hair Tip #2, Go Care Free

It is the beginning of spring! There is so much to celebrate! Leave formal hairdos for more serious events. A spring wedding hair style should reflect the celebration of the day. Avoid hair styles that are too complicated, lifeless or stiff, because it will sharply contrast with the delicate nature of cherry blossoms.

Hair Tip #3, Get a little bit on the prairie with it

 There is nothing wrong with going for a more rural chic look for your bridal hair. I’m not talking about pig tails or anything silly like that. Just hair that is carefree and simple in style.

This shows off the natural beauty of your hair, and it helps you fit into the natural beauty of the cherry blossoms.

Makeup Tip #1, Go Natural with Your Foundation

To match the natural beauty of the cherry blossom make sure to choose a foundation that does not add too much bronze, orange or any of that fake tan business. Create a base for your skin that is the soft in hue or even better yet, white porcelain. Only a tiny bit of shimmer should be used! Don’t overdo it, we are doing a delicate cherry blossom theme, NOT Vegas!

Makeup Tip #2, Use the Hues of the Cherry Blossom and Branches for a Diverse Color Palette

The soft pinks, deep and light browns, purples and white of the cherry blossoms tree should be utilized in your wedding makeup palette. Pick out cool, soft tones for the eye shadow, lipstick and blush that enhance your features, but that also blends with the lovely colors of the cherry blossom trees. Try to blend in with the cherry blossoms rather than trying to fight against them!

Makeup Tip #3, Avoid Too Much Makeup

The theme of cherry blossoms is by definition ‘natural’. You don’t want any looks that may look too artificial. Remember that any beauty routine, even a bridal one, enhances YOU. We are not trying to create a different version of you with a pound of makeup, but enhance the YOU that everyone is coming to your wedding to celebrate!

Conclusion,
 
Remember the best look for any bride is a beautiful, smiling and happy one. The beauty of spring can give us some beautiful inspiration to theme our weddings. And with the amazingly beautiful influence of our Cherry Blossoms here in DC, we could just transform any wedding into a total magical event! What a gift to be alive and getting married under the Cherry Blossoms Tree!

“What a strange thing! To be alive beneath cherry blossoms.”  – Kobayashi Issa (Japanese Poet).

Photo Credits, Jen-Fuj-Photography, ElizabethMessina.com, WallPaperWide.com, Victoria Souza Photography.

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“Welcome to our Grand Opening”

So finally we are here and this would be my very first blog post of many to come.
After so much research, work and headache the day to reveal my new website is here and I can not believe it is actually finish!
About 15 years ago I built and designed my first hair stylist and makeup artist website. Back in 1998 it was an accomplishment and back then, it was a “state of the art” in design and efficiency. But over the past few years my site needed not only a “Face Lift”, but a “Tummy Tuck”, “Liposuction” and a very serious “Chemical Peel”! Technologically speaking, I needed a more powerful platform, faster server and a total redesign. Basically, I needed an entire new website.
So I put all my hair brushes and makeup stuff on the side, worked hard on this website jumped on the HTML and CSS files and here it is.

I can not believe I have finally finished it and to only think that I made it myself!
Welcome to the “Grand Opening” of my new mymakeupbook.com !

I hope you enjoy it,

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