Wedding Wednesday... Introducing Mrs.Lewis

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of styling this beauty for her wedding. I remember when she initially met her husband, It was classic "Detroit Style". 

Her husband is from Detroit, which is the same city I'm from. Of course I knew he would be a great guy. Midwest people are the Best, most anyway. I'm a little bias. 

Needless to say when she told me she was getting married, I was elated. That's after the initial shock that she was engaged went away. It was a shock because her husband is extremely laid-back. We would constantly try to figure out when the proposal would happen (I mean don't all women?!). We couldn't have predicted exactly how and when it would happen but it did and now they are One.

The ceremony took place in College Park, Maryland on January 16, 2015. 

It was a beautiful yet intimate ceremony, which I always love. The day was a perfect reflection of who they are as individuals.  I couldn't be more proud of how they have blossomed and I wish them a lifetime of marital bliss. 

To the Lewis' *Toast*

Wedding Wednesday...The Trial Appointment

This is a continuation from the post I did last week. I wanted to walk you through how we came up with our final wedding day look.
I have stressed over and over again how important it is to have a trial appointment for your wedding day because you want to make sure you and your stylist are on the same page when it comes to your look. I like to go through multiple looks during a trial appointment until we settle on the one that suits you best.
I haven't always nailed the perfect look on the first or even the second time. I usually like to have a visual and I can usually replicate the look. Of course it will have my own spin on it, but it's close.
It's also important to be realistic when it comes to what you want. We are woman so we change our mind all the time. What we thought we wanted can change from minute to minute. Even with this bride she told me she wanted a soft, side-swept look and we ended up pinning it up.
We used clip-in extensions which matched her hair perfectly. I pressed her hair first, ceramic curled it and then I pinned it in place. The bride wanted a natural, non-structured look. I think we Nailed it!!!

 Below was the potential reception look.

The Finale

Wedding Wednesday... The Moses' Weddng...coming soon

I had the pleasure of styling for one of my really close friends last weekend in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She was such a beautiful bride. The day was perfect, the sun was shining, humidity wasn't too high and things ran pretty seamlessly.

Nothing could steal the joy of the happy couple. The wedding venue had outdoor and indoor facilities. They opted to utilize both facilities. The ceremony was outdoors, along with the cocktail hour and the reception was indoors. 

The venue had a whimsical feel, which is what the bride wanted from the moment she started planning. 

This style of the wedding was so fitting for her. It was simplistic, classic, and elegant. 

 It was refreshing that it was intimate and not over-the-top. I like intimate weddings because you have the opportunity to interact with your guest and it's not as draining for the bride and groom. 

The bride and I had a trial appointment a week prior to the wedding and decided on a style that would be soft and fitting for her theme. 

She wanted extensions but clip-ins, so that for the honeymoon she could wear her natural hair. I added clip-in extensions and was able to create a beautiful soft, up-do. Below are  a few pictures of the venue. Next week I'll feature a more in depth post on how we achieved the brides final wedding day look.

   

Wedding Wednesday... Show-Stopping, Sultry Hair!

Last night was the GQ awards took place in London. Kim Kardashian "West" (and Don't you forget that!) stole the show in her body hugging Ralph and Russo couture look, which she paired with Tom Ford heels.
I noticed her hair initially. It was by far the sexiest hairstyle that I've seen her wear. The sultry
side-swept bang with the voluminous soft waves was jaw-dropping. No wonder Kanye couldn't keep his hands to himself. She was a knockout!
I love how her hair didn't take away from her overall look. However it still made a statement.
Hair can make or break a look. That's why it's important to have the right look for your wedding day. You want your husband-to-be, to look at you like "Damn that's my woman, I'm a lucky man". It's kind of the same feeling you get when a man has a fresh haircut and fresh shave. I don't know about you but for me that's enough to stop me in my tracks. I love a well-groomed man, especially a confident one.
For a woman hair shouldn't overpower your face but it should frame it. A subtle amount of volume and body goes a long way. When you are deciding what look is best for you on your wedding day, step out of your box a little and try something different. You just may like it!

Wedding Wednesday...WorkOut Hair Maintenance

Many of you are actively trying to keep your bodies together, whether it be for life or for your wedding day.
If you are trying to get 'Snatched' for the wedding day or for life then you need to be conscience of the way you are maintaining your natural hair.
Those that have fine hair are probably shampooing their hair regularly, whereas those that have normal to coarse hair are probably shampooing 1-0 times a week.
No matter what texture your hair is, if you are working out multiple times a week then you should be shampooing your hair at least once a week.
The reason being is because if you are "really" working out then you are sweating.
Sweat (Perspiration) has salt in it along with many other minerals, which is dependent upon what the individual produces. It could be sodium (salt), magnesium, calcium, etc.
Imagine if you didn't take a shower after a workout, how would you smell after a week?!
That should put things into perspective on the importance of shampooing your hair.
If you can't smell your own hair, then others can and chances are you're being talked about. Just saying!
I'm not saying you have to shampoo everyday but at least once a week.
Leaving salt in your hair can be damaging as well. It can cause breakage because salt is drying, think about it. Salt absorbs.
I like sea breeze.
You can mix it in while you are shampooing your hair. Make sure you are also using a hydrating conditioner to ensure that you are restoring moisture into your hair.

Even if you are wearing braids, run some water through that scalp to rinse the salt out.
Even when I'm shampooing extensions, I can smell it when people have been sweating alot, it's not the most pleasant smell.
Again I stress, maintain good hair hygiene, no matter if you have extensions or natural hair.
I really like Paul Mitchell "shampoo three" because it's does an amazing job in cutting any impurities from the hair. It's the best that I've seen on the market. You can literally feel the difference on your hair.  Trust me, you'll be amazed!

Wedding Wednesday... A Barn-Style Wedding

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of styling hair for a beautiful bride named Alix. After months of trial appointments, she decided to wear a classic and sleek bun. We went through 6 variations of bun styles and decided on a simple look.
Her wedding dress had alot of detail and she didn't want her hair to be a distraction.
Again this is why trial appointments are extremely important. It really takes the stress away, at least when it comes to hair. That day is already emotionally draining, you want to have as many things in place as possible.
Something else that's really important is, when you seek out vendors, make sure you get people who are professional and accommodating to your needs. Everyone is not going to be as nice as you would like, everyone isn't going to go above and beyond to make sure that your needs are met. This is when having great vendors really matter. It makes all the difference in making sure things go smoothly on your wedding day.
I'm pretty patient and I make sure that I do my best to accommodate my clients. It's not always easy but it's worth it. You don't let anyone disrespect you however  you want to make people comfortable.

Alix had a barn-style wedding, which had a rustic feel. Her guest ate BBQ and had the opportunity to take-in beautiful country views.
Congratulations to the Mr. and Mrs.!

Below are the looks from the Wedding Day. Styled by Me

Wedding Wednesday... The Hipster Bride

It's no mystery that the average cost of a wedding has sky-rocketed. Most people are trying to cut cost wherever they can. Most brides I know want the perfect wedding dress for the day they walk down the isle and say "I do" to the man (or woman, I don't judge) of their dreams.
Some brides have a conservative budget, while others may have a liberal budget.
Whatever budget you may have, I have the perfect place for you brides-to-be. I happen to be a lover of Anthropology because I have more of a classic/vintage style.
If you are like me and have a classic, boho chic, or a vintage flair, then this may be worth looking into.
Anthropology has a wedding dress line called "Bhldn" (Beholden). http://www.bhldn.com
Bhldn has been around for a few years now, however many people aren't familiar with it.
Its not alot of options but if you are a bride on a budget then perhaps this may be an option for you. If not your ceremony dress then it could be a potential reception dress.

These are some of my favorites....

The Snowflake Gown

The Leila Gown 

The Emma Gown 

Tallulah Gown 

Wedding Wednesday....The Advantages of Lavender Oil

I'm going to do a series on different oils that are beneficial for promoting healthy hair.
The first oil I'm going to focus on is Lavender oil. Not only is Lavender one of the prime essential oils, it also has awesome benefits for your hair as well as your body.
Lavender oil can be used to reduce stress and anxiety through aroma therapy. It can also be used as an antiseptic and pain reliever (great for bug bites, minor burns).
Ladies, when you are on your honeymoon on that beautiful island, make sure you have your lavender oil just in case you need a pain reliever or antiseptic. The aroma therapy is also great for upper respiratory infections.
Say you just want to inhale the sweet smell of Love, why not vaporize your honeymoon suite with Lavender?.
For the mothers and future mothers it's also been known to treat head lice. However I hope that none of your children would be subjected to them. Just passing information.
Lets dive into the hair benefits. I'm super excited to do this series because of the things that can be done to promote hair growth, can be done by anyone at very little cost. You don't have to be a professional to maintain healthy hair. There are things that you can do at home to produce healthy hair. However I still recommend that you see a professional for cuts, straightening, chemical service, and intense treatments. It's still very important to use good products when you are caring for your hair at home. If you are natural, I recommend sulfate free shampoo/conditioners because it doesn't strip your hair of it's natural oils. For fine to normal hair I recommend body enhancing shampoo/conditioners.
Lavender should Always have a carrier, meaning it has to be mixed with another oil or product. Using it directly can cause scalp irritation. It's too potentate to be used alone.
Lavender has many benefits for the hair. It's great for your scalp in that it keeps it moisturized, it prevents dandruff/dry scalp. Which in turns creates a healthy scalp, where blood is circulating and hair growth can then take place.
In order to have healthy hair, you need blood circulation and a healthy scalp.

*Tress tip:Sometimes when you are sitting on the sofa watching tv, massage your scalp. Scalp massages generate blood flow.

Experts suggest a couple different combination:
Lavender, Clary sage, Cedarwood
Lavender, Jojoba
Lavender, Olive oil

You only need to mix a couple of drops of lavender oil and add 2 ounces of the carrier oil. You can also add the drops into your conditioner and massage it into your scalp.
Whatever combination you decide upon, oil needs to be thoroughly rinsed. Keep in mind these are oils and that oil weighs your hair down and makes it limp. If you are hoping to maintain body after using these concoctions, you won't.
I recommend applying oil before a salon visit (night or 2 before), or if you are maintaining hair at home a couple days prior to a shampoo or co-wash.
The women who are natural, know how hard it is to keep hair moisturized especially if you live in area with cooler climates. It may not be an issue to keep some oil in your hair.
Especially Lavender, it has great benefits for keeping your hair moisturized.

You can order Lavender oil from vitacost. I've done a little research and this particular one has great reviews.
http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-100-pure-lavender-oil

Credit:
Webmd.com
urbanbushbabes.com

Wedding Wednesday! How NOT to lose your Hair during the planning process

Don't worry be Happy:)))) As most brides embark upon one of the most memorable times of their lives, it can also be a very stressful time. It's so important to find ways to distress. Not only can stress have an adverse effect on your health but also on your hair.

During the planning process brides-to-be are flustered trying to figure out, dress options, food options, guest list, seating assignments, decor and other miscellaneous things that are relevant to the wedding day.
Many people don't realize that stress is the leading culprit in hair loss. When hair loss occurs due to stress, it's a very rapid process. More often then not hair will thin and in some cases, it can trigger 'alopecia areata'. If alopecia occurs you may have to see a dermatologist and get cortisone shots (Which are pretty painful, but has a high success rate in stimulating hair growth).
Its very important to remember that the wedding is one day of your life. Whereas stress can have a lasting effect on your life.You have to be Happy, and Happiness comes from within. That's why when you are stressed it has an effect internally and externally. It shifts your pH levels, because when you stress you deprive your body of vital nutrients. This is due to not eating regularly, or consuming the wrong foods (When you stress, you don't eat or you eat poorly).
If you want a healthy head of hair, you have to remember to treat it, moisturize, and keep excessive amounts of heat off of it.
As I stated in my previous post the foods that you incorporate in you diet play of significant role in hair growth.

Here are some ways to distress so that you can have beautiful and healthy hair for your big day.

1.) Listen to music. I like classical music. My favorite is the 'Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart' Pandora station. It's Awesome!

2.) Call a trusted friend or loved one. Healthy relationships/friendships are important. A reassuring voice can put everything into perspective.

3.) Eat right, Plan ahead. Fruits and veggies make great snacks. Fish with high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce symptoms of stress.

4.) Take a deep breath. Deep breathing oxygenates your blood and clears your mind.

5.) Drink a cup of tea. Tea has healthy antioxidants in it. As well as 'Theanine', which is an amino acid that has a calming and soothing effect on the nervous system.

Source: www.healthline.com